INVESTIGATING THE ROLE OF MICRORNA EXPRESSION PROFILES IN EARLY DETECTION AND PROGNOSIS OF VARIOUS HUMAN DISEASES AND DISORDERS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.71000/ctnkfw17Keywords:
microRNA; Biomarkers; Early Diagnosis; Prognosis; Systematic Review; Liquid Biopsy.Abstract
Background: The early and accurate detection of diseases remains a critical challenge in medicine. MicroRNA (miRNA) expression profiles in biofluids have emerged as promising biomarkers due to their stability and disease-specific dysregulation, offering potential for transformative diagnostic and prognostic tools.
Objective: This systematic review aims to analyze and synthesize the current evidence on how miRNA expression patterns contribute to the early detection and prognostic stratification of various human diseases.
Methods: A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library was performed for studies published from January 2019 to March 2024. Inclusion criteria encompassed clinical studies investigating miRNA profiles for diagnosis or prognosis in human diseases. Data extraction and risk of bias assessment were performed independently by two reviewers using standardized tools.
Results: From 2,347 identified records, 21 studies were included. The evidence demonstrates that specific miRNA signatures, particularly multi-marker panels, exhibit high discriminatory accuracy for early disease detection (with AUC values frequently >0.85) and reliable prognostic prediction across oncology, neurology, and cardiology. Commonly identified miRNAs, such as miR-21-5p and miR-146a-5p, were implicated across pathologies, though significant heterogeneity in methodologies was noted.
Conclusion: miRNA expression profiling holds significant potential to enhance early diagnosis and prognosis. However, methodological standardization and large-scale prospective validation are imperative before clinical translation. Future research must prioritize harmonized protocols to confirm the reliability and utility of these biomarkers in routine healthcare.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Hina Ali Ahmed, Shagufta Rasool, Iqra Rasheed, Haider Ali, Muhammad Muneeb, Emaan Rehmat, Eman Aslam (Author)
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