Circulating MicroRNAs: functional biomarkers for melanoma prognosis and treatment

Su Yin Lim; Suzanah C. Boyd; Russell J. Diefenbach; Helen Rizos

doi:10.1186/s12943-025-02298-7

Circulating MicroRNAs: functional biomarkers for melanoma prognosis and treatment

Su Yin Lim, Suzanah C. Boyd, Russell J. Diefenbach, Helen Rizos^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Macquarie Medical School

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

21 Citations (Scopus)

13 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) hold significant promise as circulating cancer biomarkers and unlike many other molecular markers, they can provide valuable insights that extend beyond tumour biology. The expression of circulating miRNAs may parallel the cellular composition and dynamic activity within the tumour microenvironment and reveal systemic immune responses. The functional complexity of miRNAs—where a single miRNA can regulate multiple messenger RNAs (mRNAs) to fine tune fundamental processes, and a single mRNA can be targeted by multiple miRNAs—underscores their broad significance and impact. However, this complexity poses significant challenges for translating miRNA research into clinical practice. In melanoma, specific miRNA signatures have shown notable diagnostic, prognostic and predictive value, with lineage-specific and immune-related miRNAs frequently identified as valuable markers. In this review, we explore the role of circulating miRNAs as potential biomarkers in melanoma, and highlight the current status and advances required to translate miRNA research into therapeutic opportunities.

Original language	English
Article number	99
Pages (from-to)	1-17
Number of pages	17
Journal	Molecular Cancer
Volume	24
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1186/s12943-025-02298-7
Publication status	Published - 28 Mar 2025

Bibliographical note

Copyright the Author(s) 2025. Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.

Keywords

Biomarkers
Immune checkpoint inhibitors
Melanoma
MicroRNA
Targeted therapies
Treatment prediction

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10.1186/s12943-025-02298-7Licence: CC BY-NC-ND

Publisher version (open access)Final published version, 2.02 MBLicence: CC BY-NC-ND

Cite this

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title = "Circulating MicroRNAs: functional biomarkers for melanoma prognosis and treatment",

abstract = "MicroRNAs (miRNAs) hold significant promise as circulating cancer biomarkers and unlike many other molecular markers, they can provide valuable insights that extend beyond tumour biology. The expression of circulating miRNAs may parallel the cellular composition and dynamic activity within the tumour microenvironment and reveal systemic immune responses. The functional complexity of miRNAs—where a single miRNA can regulate multiple messenger RNAs (mRNAs) to fine tune fundamental processes, and a single mRNA can be targeted by multiple miRNAs—underscores their broad significance and impact. However, this complexity poses significant challenges for translating miRNA research into clinical practice. In melanoma, specific miRNA signatures have shown notable diagnostic, prognostic and predictive value, with lineage-specific and immune-related miRNAs frequently identified as valuable markers. In this review, we explore the role of circulating miRNAs as potential biomarkers in melanoma, and highlight the current status and advances required to translate miRNA research into therapeutic opportunities.",

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note = "Copyright the Author(s) 2025. Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.",

year = "2025",

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doi = "10.1186/s12943-025-02298-7",

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T1 - Circulating MicroRNAs

T2 - functional biomarkers for melanoma prognosis and treatment

AU - Lim, Su Yin

AU - Boyd, Suzanah C.

AU - Diefenbach, Russell J.

AU - Rizos, Helen

N1 - Copyright the Author(s) 2025. Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.

PY - 2025/3/28

Y1 - 2025/3/28

N2 - MicroRNAs (miRNAs) hold significant promise as circulating cancer biomarkers and unlike many other molecular markers, they can provide valuable insights that extend beyond tumour biology. The expression of circulating miRNAs may parallel the cellular composition and dynamic activity within the tumour microenvironment and reveal systemic immune responses. The functional complexity of miRNAs—where a single miRNA can regulate multiple messenger RNAs (mRNAs) to fine tune fundamental processes, and a single mRNA can be targeted by multiple miRNAs—underscores their broad significance and impact. However, this complexity poses significant challenges for translating miRNA research into clinical practice. In melanoma, specific miRNA signatures have shown notable diagnostic, prognostic and predictive value, with lineage-specific and immune-related miRNAs frequently identified as valuable markers. In this review, we explore the role of circulating miRNAs as potential biomarkers in melanoma, and highlight the current status and advances required to translate miRNA research into therapeutic opportunities.

AB - MicroRNAs (miRNAs) hold significant promise as circulating cancer biomarkers and unlike many other molecular markers, they can provide valuable insights that extend beyond tumour biology. The expression of circulating miRNAs may parallel the cellular composition and dynamic activity within the tumour microenvironment and reveal systemic immune responses. The functional complexity of miRNAs—where a single miRNA can regulate multiple messenger RNAs (mRNAs) to fine tune fundamental processes, and a single mRNA can be targeted by multiple miRNAs—underscores their broad significance and impact. However, this complexity poses significant challenges for translating miRNA research into clinical practice. In melanoma, specific miRNA signatures have shown notable diagnostic, prognostic and predictive value, with lineage-specific and immune-related miRNAs frequently identified as valuable markers. In this review, we explore the role of circulating miRNAs as potential biomarkers in melanoma, and highlight the current status and advances required to translate miRNA research into therapeutic opportunities.

KW - Biomarkers

KW - Immune checkpoint inhibitors

KW - Melanoma

KW - MicroRNA

KW - Targeted therapies

KW - Treatment prediction

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105001108961

UR - http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/2028055

U2 - 10.1186/s12943-025-02298-7

DO - 10.1186/s12943-025-02298-7

M3 - Review article

C2 - 40156012

AN - SCOPUS:105001108961

SN - 1476-4598

VL - 24

SP - 1

EP - 17

JO - Molecular Cancer

JF - Molecular Cancer

IS - 1

M1 - 99

ER -

Circulating MicroRNAs: functional biomarkers for melanoma prognosis and treatment

Abstract

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Keywords

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