Digital PCR to find diagnostic markers of breast cancer [Innovative Tips]

BioTong reports that digital PCR technology is a tool that can identify microRNA (miRNA) circulating in the blood

In this study, researchers at the University of Ferrara in Italy used Bio-Rad's QX200 droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) system to determine the absolute levels of key miRNA molecules in plasma and serum samples from a variety of cancer patients

"We proved that ddPCR can be successfully used for the detection of circulating miRNA markers," said Dr.

Compared with traditional fluorescent quantitative PCR methods, digital PCR has many advantages, including no need to establish a standard curve, and the results are more stable, because digital PCR is not sensitive to changes in PCR efficiency

Ferracin uses the EvaGreen method to quantify miRNAs in a variety of common cancers

Multiple miRNAs showed significant up-regulation or down-regulation in samples from cancer patients; these miRNAs include miR-181a-5p, which was previously considered a candidate biomarker for breast cancer

The researchers later validated their results in a larger cohort

Dr.

Learn more about the applications of the droplet digital PCR system

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Absolute quantification of cell-free microRNAs in cancer patients

Oncotarget (Impact Factor: 6.