Gastric juice microRNAs as potential biomarkers for screening gastric cancer: a systematic review

BACKGROUND/AIM: To date, the combination of gastroscopy with biopsy remains the only test validated for screening gastric cancer (GC). Currently, analysis of circulating microRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) is providing interesting information on GC prognosis, but since these molecules are shared by several types of cancer, its clinical use could be questionable and difficult. MicroRNAs in gastric juice (GJ) could represent a cogent alternative to screening GC by biopsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated the pertinent literature dealing with GC GJ microRNAs through four popular search engines (PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus and Google Scholar). RESULTS: As of 2017, only four studies had been published and were all from Chinese experience. MiR-421, miR-129, miR-21, miR-106a and miR-133a were the five molecules studied in the GJ of the enrolled patients. CONCLUSION: The GJ miRNA test is reliable and reproducible. The discussed GJ miRNAs appear to be new potential biomarkers for the screening of GC.