Scientists at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have identified a new class of RNAs packed into tiny particles known as extracellular vesicles (EVs) that could revolutionize how cancer and other diseases are diagnosed. The team found that these molecules undergo changes when cancer is present, suggesting their potential as biomarkers for detecting prostate cancer or as targets for therapy.
The research team named these RNA molecules "EV-UGRs" (short for Extracellular Vesicles-Associated Unannotated Genomic Regions) after discovering them in the blood and urine of prostate cancer patients. UGRs are often referred to as the "dark matter" of the human genome. They are believed to be crucial for controlling how genes are turned on and off and how genetic instructions are translated into proteins.
Extracellular vesicles and exosomes are tiny nanoparticles, approximately 1,000 times smaller than the thickness of a human hair, secreted by all cells into biofluids such as blood and urine. These nanoparticles are known to carry genetic material, which is protected from the external environment.
These fndings suggest a less invasive approach for diagnosing prostate cancer through simple liquid biopsies, potentially eliminating the need for more complex, painful, and infection-prone biopsy procedures.
