Circulating microRNAs in lynch syndrome

Blood-based cancer biomarkers have become important research targets and together with the recent development of liquid biopsy methods and analysis, they have become interesting future tools for cancer diagnosis.

The cell-free small non-coding circulating RNA particles, namely microRNAs (c-miRs) that associate with cancer development, have been identified and tested to be used for cancer screening, diagnosis, tumor subtype classification, chemo- or radio-resistance monitoring, and outcome prognosis.

Here we use whole serum c-miR clusters from patients with hereditary cancer syndrome, called Lynch syndrome, as a biomarker and we develop machine learning-based algorithms to diagnose and predict cancer occurrence in this patient cohort. We also functionally test how these c-miR clusters effect lynch syndrome linked to tumor growth.

This interdisciplinary project combines clinical, cell biological and bioinformatic research and it will reciprocally transfer knowledge between research, Tiina Jokela and host institute, University of Jyväskylä and secondment institutes; University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital.

The proposed project support researcher Tiina Jokela to also gain transferable independent research skills and support her future career goal to become the leader of her own academic research group in the cancer research field.