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MicroRNAs as prognostic biomarker and relapse indicator in leukemia

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Abstract

Despite significant progress in the treatment of different types of leukemia, relapse remains a challenging clinical problem that is observed in a number of patients who are often resistant to chemotherapy and exhibit multi-drug resistance. Identification of new functional biomarkers, including microRNAs, is essential to determine prognosis and relapse at the time of diagnosis. The aim of this study was to detect the specific microRNAs involved in predicting relapse or progression in acute and chronic leukemias, as well as their relationship with overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS). The relevant literature was identified through a PubMed and Scholar search (2008–2016) of English-language papers using the terms Leukemia, microRNAs, survival and relapse. Different leukemia types and subtypes show specific microRNA expression profile and different changes, which can be useful in the differentiation between leukemias and evaluation of relapse at the time of diagnosis. Altered microRNA expression profiles can turn these molecules into oncogenes or tumor suppressors, which affect the expression of relapse-related genes. Therefore, monitoring of specific microRNA expression profiles from diagnosis and during follow-up of patients can contribute to the assessment of outcome and determination of relapse and prognosis of leukemic patients.

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Acknowledgements

We wish to thank all our colleagues in Golestan Hospital and Allied Health Sciences School, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Diagnostic Laboratory Sciences and Technology Research Center, School of Paramedical Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

    S. Hajizamani

  2. Health Research Institute, Research Center of Thalassemia and Hemoglobinopathy, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran

    M. Shahjahani & N. Saki

  3. Department of Biochemistry and Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran

    S. Shahrabi

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  1. S. Hajizamani
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NS conceived the manuscript and revised it; SH, SSh and MSh wrote the manuscript.

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Hajizamani, S., Shahjahani, M., Shahrabi, S. et al. MicroRNAs as prognostic biomarker and relapse indicator in leukemia. Clin Transl Oncol 19, 951–960 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-017-1638-x

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