Lenka Sedlaříková

Deregulated expression of long non-coding RNA UCA1 in multiple myeloma

Long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are RNA transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides that are not translated into proteins. They are involved in pathogenesis of many diseases including cancer and have a potential to serve as diagnostic and prognostic markers. We aimed to investigate lncRNA expression profiles in bone marrow plasma cells (BMPCs) of newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) patients in comparison to normal BMPCs of healthy donors (HD) in a three‐phase biomarker study.

Combination of serum microRNA‐320a and microRNA‐320b as a marker for Waldenström macroglobulinemia

IgM monoclonal gammopathies are a group of diseases characterized by increased level of IgM immunoglobulin produced by one clone of B cells. These diseases range trom benign (monoclonal gammopathy ot undetermined significance, MGUS) to malignant, such as Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM) or to a lesser extent multiple myeloma (MM) [1,2]. The criteria that differentiate WM from IgM-MGUS are based on the extent of bone marrow (BM) involvement, amount of serum concentration of the M-proicin, presence or absence of symptomatic disease or more recently, MYD88 (L265P) or CXCR4 mutations [3-6]. Despite that, new criteria for the differential diagnosis between these conditions are still needed, circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) being one of them. Circulating miRNAs are present in different body fluids; they reflect physiological or pathologi cal conditions and can be used tor patient classification [7,8]. Thus, we aimed to investigate the ability of serum miRNAs to distinguish WM from IgM-MGUS as well as IgM-MM patients and healthy donors (HD).

MicroRNAs in urine are not biomarkers of multiple myeloma

BackgroundIn this study, we aimed to identify microRNA from urine of multiple myeloma patients that could serve as a biomarker for the disease.ResultsAnalysis of urine samples was performed using Serum/Plasma Focus PCR MicroRNA Panel (Exiqon) and verified using individual TaqMan miRNA assays for qPCR. We found 20 deregulated microRNA (p < 0.05); for further validation, we chose 8 of them. Nevertheless, only differences in expression levels of miR-22-3p remained close to statistical significance.ConclusionsOur preliminary results did not confirm urine microRNA as a potential biomarker for multiple myeloma.

Liquid Biopsies - The Clinics and the Molecules

Unlike bone marrow biopsies, liquid biopsies represent a gentler, more accessible, less painful, repeatable and more comprehensive approach to get biologically relevant information about the entire tumor but also about treatment response and level of minimal residual disease. This is all possible since peripheral blood contains not only circulating tumor cells but also many circulating molecules of nucleic acids (microRNA, cell-free DNA, long non-coding RNA etc.). Multiple myeloma is a genetically heterogeneous disease characterized by multifocal tumor deposits in the bone marrow but also focal lesions elsewhere. Single-site biopsy of the bone marrow creates a sampling bias that provides a limited molecular profile as the biopsy cannot capture all subclones. Moreover, during disease progression and treatment, molecular profile is changed and subclones of multiple myeloma cells resistant to treatment are formed. Likewise, various clones found in extramedullary sites that are not present in the bone marrow respond differently to treatment directly influencing survival of patients. Thus, liquid biopsies seem to be a relevant and necessary next step for diseases such as multiple myeloma.Key words: multiple myeloma - minimal residual disease - prognosis - liquid biopsies - cell-free DNA - non-coding RNA.