- Scientists at the CSIR Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), in collaboration with the Regional Cancer Centre (RCC) in Thiruvananthapuram, have developed a cost-effective, non-invasive method to detect breast cancer using a drop of blood.
- By analysing microRNA (miRNA) signatures in cancer samples, they identified miRNAs associated with invasive breast cancer, with some serving as potential biomarkers for different types, grades, and stages of invasive ductal carcinoma.
- MiRNAs are small non-coding RNA molecules, that regulate most cellular processes.
- Identifying miRNAs involved in breast cancer initiation and progression promises advancements in early diagnosis and prognosis.
- Cancer cells shed circulating nucleic acids (CNAs), including DNA, RNA, and proteins, detectable in plasma or body fluids. This principle could lead to a liquid biopsy system for cancer detection from a single blood drop, benefiting developing countries.
- The study paves the way for miRNAs as biomarkers, offering a refined, cost-effective, and non-invasive breast cancer diagnostic method.
- Nine international patents have been granted for these biomarkers, highlighting the study’s impact, recently published in Cell Communication and Signalling.
Dig Deeper: Read about cancer statistics and major cancer prevalent types among women and men.
