MicroRNAs as Diagnostic Tools in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Liver cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounting for approximately 80% of all liver cancers. The serum concentration of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is the only validated biomarker for HCC diagnosis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small n...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-11-01
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| Series: | Gastrointestinal Disorders |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2624-5647/3/4/22 |
| _version_ | 1797504438445801472 |
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| author | Jessica Evangelista Elisa Zaninotto Annalisa Gaglio Michele Ghidini Lucrezia Raimondi |
| author_facet | Jessica Evangelista Elisa Zaninotto Annalisa Gaglio Michele Ghidini Lucrezia Raimondi |
| author_sort | Jessica Evangelista |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Liver cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounting for approximately 80% of all liver cancers. The serum concentration of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is the only validated biomarker for HCC diagnosis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs of 21–30 nucleotides playing a critical role in human carcinogenesis, with types of miRNAs with oncogenic (oncomiRs) or tumor suppressor features. The altered expression of miRNAs in HCC is associated with many pathological processes, such as cancer initiation, tumor growth, apoptosis escape, promotion of migration and invasion. Moreover, circulating miRNAs have been increasingly investigated as non-invasive biomarkers for HCC diagnosis. MiRNAs’ expression patterns are altered in HCC and several single miRNAs or miRNAs panels have been found significantly up or downregulated in HCC with respect to healthy controls or non-oncological patients (cirrhotic or with viral hepatitis). However, any of the investigated miRNAs or miRNAs panels has entered clinical practice so far. This has mostly to do with lack of protocols standardization, small sample size and discrepancies in the measurement techniques. This review summarizes the major findings regarding the diagnostic role of miRNAs in HCC and their possible use together with standard biomarkers in order to obtain an early diagnosis and easier differential diagnosis from non-cancerous liver disease. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:04:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a8f8fed9bea84f219fb343cc135854ef |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2624-5647 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:04:33Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Gastrointestinal Disorders |
| spelling | doaj.art-a8f8fed9bea84f219fb343cc135854ef2023-11-23T08:27:07ZengMDPI AGGastrointestinal Disorders2624-56472021-11-013423724610.3390/gidisord3040022MicroRNAs as Diagnostic Tools in Hepatocellular CarcinomaJessica Evangelista0Elisa Zaninotto1Annalisa Gaglio2Michele Ghidini3Lucrezia Raimondi4Thoracic Surgery, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS (Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico), 00168 Rome, ItalySection of Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Verona School of Medicine and Verona University Hospital Trust, 37134 Verona, ItalyDepartment of Translational Medicine, Università Del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, ItalyMedical Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS (Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico) Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Via Della Commenda 19, 20122 Milan, ItalyU.O.C. Territorial Oncology of Aprilia, Sapienza University of Rome, 04011 Aprilia, ItalyLiver cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounting for approximately 80% of all liver cancers. The serum concentration of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is the only validated biomarker for HCC diagnosis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs of 21–30 nucleotides playing a critical role in human carcinogenesis, with types of miRNAs with oncogenic (oncomiRs) or tumor suppressor features. The altered expression of miRNAs in HCC is associated with many pathological processes, such as cancer initiation, tumor growth, apoptosis escape, promotion of migration and invasion. Moreover, circulating miRNAs have been increasingly investigated as non-invasive biomarkers for HCC diagnosis. MiRNAs’ expression patterns are altered in HCC and several single miRNAs or miRNAs panels have been found significantly up or downregulated in HCC with respect to healthy controls or non-oncological patients (cirrhotic or with viral hepatitis). However, any of the investigated miRNAs or miRNAs panels has entered clinical practice so far. This has mostly to do with lack of protocols standardization, small sample size and discrepancies in the measurement techniques. This review summarizes the major findings regarding the diagnostic role of miRNAs in HCC and their possible use together with standard biomarkers in order to obtain an early diagnosis and easier differential diagnosis from non-cancerous liver disease.https://www.mdpi.com/2624-5647/3/4/22microRNAsHCChepatocellular carcinomadiagnosisprognosis |
| spellingShingle | Jessica Evangelista Elisa Zaninotto Annalisa Gaglio Michele Ghidini Lucrezia Raimondi MicroRNAs as Diagnostic Tools in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Gastrointestinal Disorders microRNAs HCC hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosis prognosis |
| title | MicroRNAs as Diagnostic Tools in Hepatocellular Carcinoma |
| title_full | MicroRNAs as Diagnostic Tools in Hepatocellular Carcinoma |
| title_fullStr | MicroRNAs as Diagnostic Tools in Hepatocellular Carcinoma |
| title_full_unstemmed | MicroRNAs as Diagnostic Tools in Hepatocellular Carcinoma |
| title_short | MicroRNAs as Diagnostic Tools in Hepatocellular Carcinoma |
| title_sort | micrornas as diagnostic tools in hepatocellular carcinoma |
| topic | microRNAs HCC hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosis prognosis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2624-5647/3/4/22 |
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