Urinary Exosomal MicroRNAs as Potential Non-invasive Biomarkers in Breast Cancer Detection

• Published in: Molecular diagnosis & therapy 2020-04, Vol.24 (2), p.215-232
• Main Authors: Hirschfeld, Marc, Rücker, Gerta, Weiß, Daniela, Berner, Kai, Ritter, Andrea, Jäger, Markus, Erbes, Thalia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomarkers; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Biopsy; Breast cancer; Cancer Research; Diagnostic systems; Health care; Human Genetics; Laboratory Medicine; Mammography; Medical prognosis; Metastasis; MicroRNAs; miRNA; Molecular Medicine; Original Research Article; Pharmacotherapy; Ribonucleic acid; RNA; State-of-the-art reviews; Ultrasonic imaging; Urine; Womens health
• ISSN: 1177-1062; 1179-2000
• DOI: 10.1007/s40291-020-00453-y

Introduction Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequent malignant disease in women worldwide and is therefore challenging for the healthcare system. Early BC detection remains a leading factor that improves overall outcome and disease management. Aside from established screening procedures, there is a constant demand for additional BC detection methods. Routine BC screening via non-invasive liquid biopsy biomarkers is one auspicious approach to either complete or even replace the current state-of-the-art diagnostics. The study explores the diagnostic potential of urinary exosomal microRNAs with specific BC biomarker characteristics to initiate the potential prospective application of non-invasive BC screening as routine practice. Methods Based on a case–control study (69 BC vs. 40 healthy controls), expression level quantification and subsequent biostatistical computation of 13 urine-derived microRNAs were performed to evaluate their diagnostic relevance in BC. Results Multilateral statistical assessment determined and repeatedly confirmed a specific panel of four urinary microRNA types (miR-424, miR-423, miR-660, and let7-i) as a highly specific combinatory biomarker tool discriminating BC patients from healthy controls, with 98.6% sensitivity and 100% specificity. Discussion Urine-based BC diagnosis may be achieved through the analysis of distinct microRNA panels with proven biomarker abilities. Subject to further validation, the implementation of urinary BC detection in routine screening offers a promising non-invasive alternative in women’s healthcare.