The new world of RNA biomarkers and explorers’ prudence rules (original) (raw)

2018, The International Journal of Biological Markers

Years of molecular research have described the qualitative and quantitative changes subverting cell physiology in pathological states. In cancer, accessibility to tumor biopsies has granted detailed analysis of the mechanisms leading to uncontrolled cell growth, spreading, and metastasis, allowing focused diagnosis and innovative treatments. For public health, a decisive step forward will be the availability of non-invasive tests to detect early signs of disease, establish the responsiveness to drugs, and anticipate relapses. This paradigm could be applied to any kind of human disease. A recently proposed blood test, which has wide press echoes, measures a "profile" of DNA mutations and proteins in blood and claimed a 55% success rate for early cancer detection. 1 Among novelties, the recent findings of galaxies of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in human tissues and in body liquids has generated a flurry of reports proposing these molecules as biomarkers. Besides undoubted interest, we suggest that more stringent and adequate quality criteria should be established in order to consider and publish reports on ncRNAs as biomarkers.