Theragnostics represent cutting-edge, multi-disciplinary strategies that combine diagnostics with
therapeutics in order to generate personalized
therapies that improve patient outcome. In oncology, the approach is aimed at more accurate diagnosis of
cancer, optimization of patient selection to identify those most likely to benefit from a specific
therapy and to generate effective
therapeutics that enhance patient survival.
MicroRNAs (
miRNAs) are master regulators of the human genome that orchestrate myriad cellular pathways to control growth during physiologic and pathologic conditions. Compelling evidence shows that
miRNA deregulation promotes events linked to
tumor initiation,
metastasis and drug resistance as seen in
multiple myeloma (MM), an invariably fatal
hematologic malignancy.
miRNAs are readily detected in body fluids, for example, serum, plasma, urine, as well as
circulating tumor cells to demonstrate their potential as readily accessible, non-invasive diagnostic and prognostic
biomarkers and potential
therapeutics. Specific
miRNAs are aberrantly expressed early in myelomagenesis and may more readily detect high-risk disease than current methods. Although only recently discovered
miRNAs have rapidly advanced from preclinical studies to evaluation in human clinical trials. The development of
miRNA theragnostics should provide widely applicable tools for the targeted delivery of personalized medicines to improve the outcome of patients with MM.