MicroRNA in biofluids—Robust biomarkers for disease, toxicology, or injury studies: The case of minimally invasive colorectal cancer detection.

2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (30_suppl) ◽  
pp. 20-20
Author(s):  
Peter Mouritzen ◽  
Søren Jensby Nielsen ◽  
Maria Wrang Teilum ◽  
Thorarinn Blondal ◽  
Ditte Andreasen ◽  
...  

20 Background: MicroRNAs function as post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression. Their high relative stability in common clinical source materials (FFPE blocks, plasma, serum, urine, saliva, etc.) and the ability of microRNA expression profiles to accurately classify discrete tissue types and specific disease states have positioned microRNAs as promising new biomarkers for diagnostic application. Furthermore microRNAs have been shown to be rapidly released from tissues into the circulation with the development of pathology. Methods: Thousands of biofluid samples were profiled including blood derived plasma/serum and urine using a genome-wide LNA-based microRNA qPCR platform, which has unparalleled sensitivity and robustness even in biofluids with extremely low microRNA levels. Only a single RT reaction is required to conduct full miRNome profiling thereby facilitating high-throughput profiling without the need for pre-amplification. Results: Normal reference ranges for circulating microRNAs were determined in several biofluids, allowing development of qPCR arrays containing only relevant microRNA subsets present in various biofluids together with tissue specific microRNA markers. Procedures were developed to control pre-analytical variables, for quality checking and qualifying biofluid samples in particular serum and plasma but also urine and other biofluids. An extensive QC system was implemented in order to secure technical excellence and reveal any unwanted bias in the dataset. We currently screen and validate microRNAs biomarkers for cancer with the aim of developing minimal invasive tests to be applied in early detection population screens. Conclusions: The qPCR panels support development of robust biomarkers in disease, toxicology, and injury studies. We will demonstrate how panels may be quickly and robustly applied in biomarker discovery/validation projects using the specific case early detection of colorectal cancer in blood. Close attention is required on pre-analytical parameters. Hemolysis and cellular contamination affect miRNA profiles in biofluids and control is required.

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (23) ◽  
pp. 6082 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stine Thorsen ◽  
Irina Gromova ◽  
Ib Christensen ◽  
Simon Fredriksson ◽  
Claus Andersen ◽  
...  

The burden of colorectal cancer (CRC) is considerable—approximately 1.8 million people are diagnosed each year with CRC and of these about half will succumb to the disease. In the case of CRC, there is strong evidence that an early diagnosis leads to a better prognosis, with metastatic CRC having a 5-year survival that is only slightly greater than 10% compared with up to 90% for stage I CRC. Clearly, biomarkers for the early detection of CRC would have a major clinical impact. We implemented a coherent gel-based proteomics biomarker discovery platform for the identification of clinically useful biomarkers for the early detection of CRC. Potential protein biomarkers were identified by a 2D gel-based analysis of a cohort composed of 128 CRC and site-matched normal tissue biopsies. Potential biomarkers were prioritized and assays to quantitatively measure plasma expression of the candidate biomarkers were developed. Those biomarkers that fulfilled the preset criteria for technical validity were validated in a case-control set of plasma samples, including 70 patients with CRC, adenomas, or non-cancer diseases and healthy individuals in each group. We identified 63 consistently upregulated polypeptides (factor of four-fold or more) in our proteomics analysis. We selected 10 out of these 63 upregulated polypeptides, and established assays to measure the concentration of each one of the ten biomarkers in plasma samples. Biomarker levels were analyzed in plasma samples from healthy individuals, individuals with adenomas, CRC patients, and patients with non-cancer diseases and we identified one protein, tropomyosin 3 (Tpm3) that could discriminate CRC at a significant level (p = 0.0146). Our results suggest that at least one of the identified proteins, Tpm3, could be used as a biomarker in the early detection of CRC, and further studies should provide unequivocal evidence for the real-life clinical validity and usefulness of Tpm3.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sicheng Liu ◽  
Yaguang Zhang ◽  
Su Zhang ◽  
Lei Qiu ◽  
Bo Zhang ◽  
...  

Liver metastasis of colorectal cancer (LMCRC) severely damages patient health, causing poor prognosis and tumor relapse. Marker genes associated with LMCRC identified by previous study did not meet therapeutic demand. Therefore, it is necessary to identify new biomarkers regulating the metastasis network and screen potential drugs for future treatment. Here, we identified that cell adhesion molecules and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signaling pathway were significantly enriched by analyzing the integrated-multiple expression profiles. Moreover, analysis with robust rank aggregation approach revealed a total of 138 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including 108 upexpressed and 30 downexpressed genes. With establishing protein–protein interaction network, we also identified the subnetwork significantly enriching the metastasis-associated hub genes including ALB, APOE, CDH2, and ORM1. ESR2, FOXO3, and SRY were determined as key transcription factors regulating hub genes. In addition, ADH-1, epigallocatechin, CHEMBL1945287, and cochinchinenin C were predicted as potential therapeutic drugs. Moreover, the antimigration capacity of ADH-1 and epigallocatechin were confirmed in CRC cell lines. In conclusion, our findings not only offer opportunities to understand metastasis mechanism but also identify potential therapeutic targets for CRC.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (19) ◽  
pp. 7395
Author(s):  
Muhamad Ansar ◽  
Chun-Jung Wang ◽  
Yu-Han Wang ◽  
Tsung-Hua Shen ◽  
Chin-Sheng Hung ◽  
...  

The incidence and mortality rates of colorectal cancer (CRC) have been high in recent years. Prevention and early detection are crucial for decreasing the death rate. Therefore, this study aims to characterize the alteration patterns of mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 3 (SMAD3) in patients with CRC and its applications in early detection by using a genome-wide methylation array to identify an aberrant hypomethylation site in the intron position of the SMAD3 gene. Quantitative methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction showed that hypomethylated SMAD3 occurred in 91.4% (501/548) of Taiwanese CRC tissues and 66.6% of benign tubular adenoma polyps. In addition, SMAD3 hypomethylation was observed in 94.7% of patients with CRC from The Cancer Genome Atlas dataset. A decrease in circulating cell-free methylation SMAD3 was detected in 70% of CRC patients but in only 20% of healthy individuals. SMAD3 mRNA expression was low in 42.9% of Taiwanese CRC tumor tissues but high in 29.4% of tumors compared with paired adjacent normal tissues. Hypomethylated SMAD3 was found in cancers of the digestive system, such as liver cancer, gastric cancer, and colorectal cancer, but not in breast cancer, endometrial cancer, and lung cancer. In conclusion, SMAD3 hypomethylation is a potential diagnostic marker for CRC in Western and Asian populations.


2014 ◽  
Vol 60 (9) ◽  
pp. 1158-1173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janani Saikumar ◽  
Krithika Ramachandran ◽  
Vishal S Vaidya

Abstract BACKGROUND The recent revolutionary advances made in genome-wide sequencing technology have transformed biology and molecular diagnostics, allowing new sRNA (small RNA) classes to be discovered as potential disease-specific biological indicators. Cell-free microRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to exist stably in a wide spectrum of body fluids and their expression profiles have been shown to reflect an assortment of physiological conditions, underscoring the utility of this new class of molecules to function as noninvasive biomarkers of disease. CONTENT We summarize information on the known mechanisms of miRNA protection and release into extracellular space and compile the current literature on extracellular miRNAs that have been investigated as biomarkers of 20 different cancers, 11 organ damage conditions and 10 diverse disease states. We also discuss the various strategies involved in the miRNA biomarker discovery workflow and provide a critical opinion on the impediments faced by this advancing field that need to be overcome in the laboratory. SUMMARY The field of miRNA-centered diagnostics is still in its infancy, and basic questions with regard to the exact role of miRNAs in the pathophysiology of diseases, and the mechanisms of their release from affected cells into biological fluids are yet to be completely understood. Nevertheless, these noninvasive micromarkers have immense potential in translational medicine not only for use in monitoring the efficacy and safety of therapeutic regimens but also to guide the diagnosis of diseases, to determine the risk of developing diseases or conditions, and more importantly, to inform treatment options.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Østrup Jensen ◽  
Nadia Øgaard ◽  
Mai-Britt Worm Ørntoft ◽  
Mads Heilskov Rasmussen ◽  
Jesper Bertram Bramsen ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Early detection plays an essential role to reduce colorectal cancer (CRC) mortality. While current screening methods suffer from poor compliance, liquid biopsy-based strategies for cancer detection is rapidly gaining promise. Here, we describe the development of TriMeth, a minimal-invasive blood-based test for detection of early-stage colorectal cancer. The test is based on assessment of three tumour-specific DNA methylation markers in circulating cell-free DNA. Results A thorough multi-step biomarker discovery study based on DNA methylation profiles of more than 5000 tumours and blood cell populations identified CRC-specific DNA methylation markers. The DNA methylation patterns of biomarker candidates were validated by bisulfite sequencing and methylation-specific droplet digital PCR in CRC tumour tissue and peripheral blood leucocytes. The three best performing markers were first applied to plasma from 113 primarily early-stage CRC patients and 87 age- and gender-matched colonoscopy-verified controls. Based on this, the test scoring algorithm was locked, and then TriMeth was validated in an independent cohort comprising 143 CRC patients and 91 controls. Three DNA methylation markers, C9orf50, KCNQ5, and CLIP4, were identified, each capable of discriminating plasma from colorectal cancer patients and healthy individuals (areas under the curve 0.86, 0.91, and 0.88). When combined in the TriMeth test, an average sensitivity of 85% (218/256) was observed (stage I: 80% (33/41), stage II: 85% (121/143), stage III: 89% (49/55), and stage IV: 88% (15/17)) at 99% (176/178) specificity in two independent plasma cohorts. Conclusion TriMeth enables detection of early-stage colorectal cancer with high sensitivity and specificity. The reported results underline the potential utility of DNA methylation-based detection of circulating tumour DNA in the clinical management of colorectal cancer.


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