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Review
. 2020 Aug 22;10(3):98.
doi: 10.3390/jpm10030098.

Circulating MicroRNAs as Prognostic and Therapeutic Biomarkers in Breast Cancer Molecular Subtypes

Veronica Zelli  1   2 , Chiara Compagnoni  1 , Roberta Capelli  1 , Katia Cannita  3 , Tina Sidoni  3 , Corrado Ficorella  3 , Carlo Capalbo  4 , Francesca Zazzeroni  1 , Alessandra Tessitore  1   2 , Edoardo Alesse  1
Affiliations
Review

Circulating MicroRNAs as Prognostic and Therapeutic Biomarkers in Breast Cancer Molecular Subtypes

Veronica Zelli et al. J Pers Med. .

Abstract

Breast cancer (BC) is a common and heterogeneous disease, of which six molecular subtypes, characterized by different biological features and clinical outcomes, were described. The identification of additional biomarkers able to further connote and distinguish the different BC subtypes is essential to improve the diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic strategies in BC patients. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNA involved in several physiological and pathological processes, including cancer development and progression. In particular, circulating miRNAs, which can be found in an adequately stable structure in serum/plasma of cancer patients, are emerging as very promising non-invasive biomarkers. Several studies have analyzed the potential role of circulating miRNAs as prognostic and therapeutic markers in BC. In the present review we describe circulating miRNAs, identified as putative biomarker in BC, with special reference to different BC molecular subtypes.

Keywords: biomarkers; breast cancer; circulating microRNA; microRNA; molecular subtypes.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Classification of breast cancer molecular subtypes. Abbreviations: ER+, estrogen receptor positive; PR+, progesterone receptor positive; HER2+, human epithelial growth factor receptor 2 positive; EMT, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition; SCs, stem cells.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Schematic representation of miRNA release from tumor to bloodstream and compartmentalization of circulating miRNAs.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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