Issues

Circulating miRNAs are non-coding RNAs that have the potential to serve as predictors of sporadic cancer. In the study starting on page 243, Sievänen and colleagues investigated a circulating microRNA signature to predict cancer incidence in patients with Lynch syndrome, an inherited cancer predisposition syndrome with a high genetic risk for various cancers. A panel of five circulating microRNAs associated with a higher cancer risk within the Lynch syndrome cohort was identified, which was also correlated with higher body mass index. These findings suggest integrating circulating miRNAs with clinicopathologic factors could enhance the accuracy of patient selection criteria for risk-bases screening programs for Lynch syndrome carriers and provide insight how lifestyle factors may impact cancer risk. The cover image is adapted from Figure 2A and Figure 3A. Figure 2A displays a heatmap of circulating miRNA differentially expressed in cancer-free Lynch syndrome carriers and a healthy control group. Figure 3A shows the Lasso feature selection graphs of Lynch-syndrome-associated circulating microRNAs that best distinguish between cancer-free Lynch syndrome carriers who developed cancer within a 4-year prospective surveillance period and those who did not.