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World J Gastroenterol. Sep 14, 2014; 20(34): 12007-12017
Published online Sep 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i34.12007
MicroRNAs as potential biomarkers for gastric cancer
Han-Shao Liu, Hua-Sheng Xiao
Han-Shao Liu, Hua-Sheng Xiao, National Engineering Research Center for Biochip at Shanghai, Shanghai 201203, China
Han-Shao Liu, Hua-Sheng Xiao, Shanghai-MOST Key Laboratory for Disease and Health Genomics, Chinese National Human Genome Center at Shanghai, Shanghai 201203, China
Han-Shao Liu, Advanced Institute of Translational Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
Author contributions: Liu HS wrote the manuscript; Xiao HS revised the manuscript for critical intellectual content.
Supported by Grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 30900745; and the National High-Tech Research and Development Program (863 Program), No. 2012AA020103
Correspondence to: Hua-Sheng Xiao, PhD, National Engineering Research Center for Biochip at Shanghai, No. 151 Libing Rd., Shanghai 201203, China. huasheng_xiao@shbiochip.com
Telephone: +86-21-51320288 Fax: +86-21-51320266
Received: October 29, 2013
Revised: May 6, 2014
Accepted: June 12, 2014
Published online: September 14, 2014
Processing time: 324 Days and 0.7 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: Gastric cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death, and > 80% of cases are diagnosed at the middle to late disease stage. Novel biomarkers for the detection of early stage gastric cancer are therefore urgently needed. Recent recognition of a correlation between aberrantly expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) and cancer-related processes has highlighted the potential of miRNAs as diagnostic and prognostic markers. Detection of miRNAs, in tissue as well as in serum/plasma, may enhance the sensitivity and specificity of diagnostic and prognostic tests for early stage gastric cancer, and provide a means to monitor recurrence and/or lymph node metastasis.