Abstract
Introduction. Cervical cancer (CC) is the second most common gynecological oncological disease among women worldwide. Due to the widespread implementation of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and screening programs, the number of newly diagnosed CC cases has decreased by 80% globally. However, mortality rates remain high in low-income countries. Treatment resistance remains one of the most significant and unresolved clinical challenges today. Despite advances in treatment and accumulated knowledge, many patients with early-stage CC experience a more aggressive disease course than predicted based on known prognostic factors. Treatment efficacy can vary significantly among patients within the same disease stage. Therefore, an important task is the search for potential prognostic markers to identify patients at risk of treatment failure early, allowing for treatment strategies to be planned according to genetic characteristics.
Aim: To review the role of specific non-coding microRNAs as potential prognostic biomarkers for CC.
Materials and Methods. A systematic analytical search for relevant sources was conducted in the following databases: PubMed, Medline, Cochrane Library, Embase, BMJ Group, and Google Scholar from January 2020. The following keywords were used for the search: cervical cancer, prognostic markers, microRNAs.
Exclusion criteria included: conference materials, abstracts, letters, studies with incomplete data, and experimental research.
Results. This review presents microRNA expression profiles associated with the development of the most common malignant neoplasms, particularly CC. Changes in circulating microRNA profiles are closely linked to tumor development and progression, the extent of oncological process spread, and patient survival rates. The analysis and assessment of microRNA ratios in serum and plasma are crucial for the early differential diagnosis of cervical malignant neoplasms, determining their histological type, malignant potential, and evaluating sensitivity to drug therapy.
Conclusions. To date, substantial evidence confirms that changes in circulating microRNA profiles are associated with tumor development and progression, the extent of tumor spread, and patient survival indicators. These findings support the potential use of microRNAs for predicting the course and characteristics of malignant processes in the most common solid tumors, including CC.