Development of a Circulating miRNA Assay to Monitor Tumour Burden: from Mouse to Man

Circulating miRNA stability suggests potential utility of miRNA based biomarkers to monitor tumour burden and/or progression, particularly in cancer types where serial biopsy is impractical. Assessment of miRNA specificity and sensitivity is challenging within the clinical setting. To address this, circulating miRNAs were examined in mice bearing human SCLC tumour xenografts and SCLC patient derived circulating tumour cell explant models (CDX). We identified 49 miRNAs using human Taqman Low Density Arrays readily detectable in 10μl tail vein plasma from mice carrying H526 SCLC xenografts that were low or undetectable in non-tumour bearing controls.

Source: Molecular Oncology - October 28, 2015 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Alastair Greystoke, Mahmood Ayub, Dominic G. Rothwell, Dan Morris, Deborah Burt, Cassandra L. Hodgkinson, Christopher J. Morrow, Nigel Smith, Kwaw Aung, Juan Valle, Louise Carter, Fiona Blackhall, Caroline Dive, Ged Brady Source Type: research