Journal Article

Quantification of circulating microRNAs by droplet digital PCR for cancer detection

Giorlandino, Claudio, Mesoraca, Alvaro, Margiotti, Katia, Cirillo, Priscila D. R.

2020

Overview

Objective Circulating cell-free microRNAs (miRNAs) which consist of short-sequence RNAs are released from cells into the blood stream and has emerged as new biomarkers in the clinical cancer diagnosis and treatment. For instance, ovarian cancer comprises one of the three major malignant tumor types in the female reproductive system. The mortality rate of this cancer is the highest among all gynecological tumors, with ovarian cancer metastasis constituting an important cause of death. Therefore, development of a diagnostic tool that enables the ovarian cancer diagnosis in earlier stages is urgent. Results We have described an efficient protocol for an accurate absolute quantification of circulating miRNAs in healthy and ovarian cancer serum samples. Our data showed that ddPCR methodology can accurately measure circulating miRNAs levels and that can be a useful tool in biomarkers discovery for ovarian cancer detection.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,Springer Nature B.V,BMC
• Subject: Analysis / Biomarker / Biomarkers / Biomarkers, Tumor - genetics / Biomedical and Life Sciences / Biomedicine / Cancer / Cancer diagnosis / Cancer therapies / Circulating MicroRNA - genetics / Deoxyribonucleic acid / Diagnosis / Diagnostics / DNA / Droplet digital PCR / Efficiency / Female / Genetic aspects / Gynecological cancer / Gynecology / Humans / Life Sciences / Medical prognosis / Medicine/Public Health / Metastases / Methods / MicroRNA / MicroRNAs / MicroRNAs - genetics / miRNA / Ovarian cancer / Ovarian Neoplasms - diagnosis / Ovarian Neoplasms - genetics / Polymerase Chain Reaction / Reproductive system / Research Note / Serum / Statistical analysis / Thermal cycling / Tumors