Exosomal noncoding RNAs in cholangiocarcinoma: Laboratory noise or hope?

Authors :: Laschos K
Lampropoulou DI
Aravantinos G
Piperis M
Filippou D
Theodoropoulos G
Gazouli M
Source :: World journal of gastrointestinal surgery [World J Gastrointest Surg] 2020 Oct 27; Vol. 12 (10), pp. 407-424.
Publication Year :: 2020
Abstract: Currently, extracellular vesicles and particularly exosomes have gained a lot of research interest due to their unique roles in several biological processes. Noncoding RNAs (microRNAs, long noncoding RNAs and circular RNAs) represent a class of functional RNA with distinct regulatory roles in tumorigenesis and cancer progression. Cholangiocarcinoma is a rare but highly aggressive type of malignancy that is very challenging to diagnose, especially in early stages; surgical resection still represents the sole potentially curative treatment option. Hence, there is an urgent need for the discovery of novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. Hereby, we provide a comprehensive review of the most recent discoveries that focus on exosomal noncoding RNAs in cholangio-carcinoma with the aim to identify new molecular players that could be used as biomarkers and therapeutic targets.<br />Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: No conflict of interest to declare.<br /> (©The Author(s) 2020. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.)