Veronika Kubaczková

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.

Cell-free DNA — Minimally invasive marker of hematological malignancies

Although tumor cells are the most reliable source of tumor DNA, biopsy of the tumor is an invasive procedure that should be avoided in some cases. The main limitation of any biopsy is sampling of one tumor site, which may not represent all malignant clones due to the heterogeneity of the tumor. These clones respond to treatment differently and thus directly influence survival of the patient. Circulating cell‐free DNA (cfDNA) is released from multiple tumor sites, reflects overall heterogeneity of the tumor, and correlates with its progression. Detection of tumor‐specific genetic and epigenetic aberrations in cfDNA could have a direct impact on molecular diagnosis, prognosis, follow‐up of disease, monitoring of minimal residual disease, and response to treatment. While most cfDNA data are still experimental, they are very promising. This review focuses on cfDNA in hematological malignancies.

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.