Abstract

miRNA Biomarkers in Colorectal Neoplasia

Ajay Goel, Investigator/Professor & Director, Baylor University Medical Center

MicroRNAs (or miRNAs) are small transcripts of 20-24 nucleotides that have emerged as important regulators of gene expression in cancer cells. Overexpression of specific miRNAs has been linked to the stepwise disease progression during the normal-adenoma-cancer sequence in the colorectal cancer (CRC). Given their cancer-specific pattern of expression, remarkable stability and presence in blood and other body fluids, miRNAs are considered to be highly promising cancer biomarkers. Although the use of miRNA biomarkers for CRC is still in its infancy, accumulating evidence firmly supports the existence of unique ‘miRNA signatures’ that can not only facilitate earlier detection of the tumor, but can also assist in predicting disease recurrence and therapeutic outcome to current treatment regimens.