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Circulating MicroRNAs: Possible Prediction Biomarkers for Personalized Therapy of Non–Small-Cell Lung Carcinoma

2011; Elsevier BV; Volume: 12; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.3816/clc.2011.n.001

1938-0690

Wen Gao, Lingxiang Liu, Xiao Lu, Yongqian Shu,

RNA modifications and cancer

Lung cancer continues to be the leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Non–small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) accounts for approximately 80%-85% of all cases of lung cancer. Combination chemotherapy, usually platinum based, is currently the first therapy of choice and the availability of targeted agents have provided some clinical benefit. However, the prognosis for patients with advanced NSCLC remains poor. Moreover, a considerable number of patients are not sensitive to treatment, and often cancer cells develop drug resistance, usually leading to a relapse and worsening of prognosis. 1 Rudd RM Gower NH Spiro SG et al. Gemcitabine plus carboplatin versus mitomycin, ifosfamide, and cisplatin in patients with stage IIIB or IV non small cell lung cancer. Aphase III randomized study of the London Cancer Group. J Clin Oncol. 2005; 23: 142-153 Crossref PubMed Scopus (148) Google Scholar , 2 Martoni A Marino A Sperandi F et al. Multicentre randomized phase III study comparing the same dose and schedule of cisplatin plus the same schedule of vinorelbine or gemcitabine in advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Eur J Cancer. 2005; 41: 81-92 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (73) Google Scholar The growing field of personalized treatment seeks to treat cancer based on the unique genetic characteristics of each tumor. Molecular markers will help guide treatment for each patient, increasing efficacy and eliminating unnecessary side effects in those patients who will not benefit from a therapy regimen. Moreover, these biomarkers may lead to the development of therapeutic strategies that help to overcome drug resistance. Despite the efforts that have been made, reliable markers are inadequate and most methods for marker detection are inconvenient and invasive. An ideal method for detecting biomarkers should have high sensitivity and specificity and should also be safe and affordable, so that it can be broadly accepted by patients. Moreover, it is sometimes difficult to obtain cancer tissue samples from patients with inoperable NSCLC. Hence, there is a great need for the identification of novel, noninvasive biomarkers for the personalized care of patients with NSCLC.