An unprecedented discovery may revolutionize cancer diagnosis

The research team identified a new class of RNA “packaged in small particles known as extracellular vesicles (EVs).”

The researchers named the new class “EV-UGRs” (short for extracellular vesicle-associated uncharacterized genomic regions), after their discovery in the blood and urine of prostate cancer patients.

These molecules undergo specific changes when cancer is present, suggesting their potential as biomarkers for detecting prostate cancer, or as targets for treatment, the team said.

UGRs are often referred to as the “dark matter” of the human genome. They are thought to be essential for controlling how genes are turned on and off, and how genetic instructions are translated into proteins.

Extracellular vesicles and exosomes are small nanoparticles secreted by all cells into biological fluids such as blood and urine. Nanoparticles carry genetic material that is protected from the external environment.

The research team, led by Navneet Dogra, assistant professor of pathology and molecular and cellular medicine, discovered that extracellular vesicles carry a small, previously unidentified class of RNA dark matter.

“Until now, the ‘dark matter’ of RNA associated with extracellular vesicles has been largely ignored,” says Dogra, the study’s lead author. “My team wanted to explore whether EV-UGRs could be useful for disease monitoring. We tracked prostate cancer patients before and after surgery, and were surprised to find changes in EV-UGR RNA after surgery. To our knowledge, this is the first study to detail EV-UGRs in unprecedented detail in the context of prostate cancer.”

“Our results indicate that EV-UGR receptors in the blood undergo changes in the presence of cancer, suggesting a promising approach to diagnosing prostate cancer through simple liquid biopsies, which may eliminate the need for more complex and painful biopsy procedures,” he added.

The discovery of EV-UGRs promises non-invasive diagnosis not only of prostate cancer, but also of other diseases, Dogra says.

The researchers plan to validate their findings through randomized clinical trials, which will involve testing the new approach on a larger scale to confirm its effectiveness.

The study was published in the August 16 online issue of the journal Extracellular Vesicles.

Source: Medical Express