Breast cancer plasma biopsy by in situ determination of exosomal microRNA-1246 with a molecular beacon

A simple and accurate blood biopsy without extracting plasma exosomes and their nucleic acids content was developed using a modified molecular beacon.

Correction: A facile deoxyuridine/biotin-modified molecular beacon for simultaneous detection of proteins and nucleic acids via a label-free and background-eliminated fluorescence assay

Correction for ‘A facile deoxyuridine/biotin-modified molecular beacon for simultaneous detection of proteins and nucleic acids via a label-free and background-eliminated fluorescence assay’ by Fei Yin, et al., Analyst, 2019, 144, 5504–5510, DOI: 10.1039/C9AN01016E.

A facile deoxyuridine/biotin-modified molecular beacon for simultaneous detection of proteins and nucleic acids via a label-free and background-eliminated fluorescence assay

Simultaneous detection of different types of cancer biomarkers (nucleic acids and proteins) could facilitate early diagnosis of cancer and clinical treatment.

Molecular Beacon Reverse Transcription-PCR of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin-β-3, -5, and -8 mRNAs Has Prognostic Value in Breast Cancer

Background: The β-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is encoded by four genes, of which expression of the hCGβ-3, -5, and -8 genes could have prognostic value in breast cancer. Methods: Applying a new, modified Molecular Beacon reverse transcription-PCR assay, we investigated the prognostic value of the hCGβ-3, -5, and -8 gene transcripts in 129 sporadic unilateral breast cancer samples from patients with a median follow-up of 62.3 months. Results: Expression of hCGβ-3, -5, -8 was significantly (P = 0.020) associated with relapse-free survival (RFS). In multivariate survival analysis, hCGβ-3, -5, and -8 maintained prognostic value for RFS, with high expression predicting shorter RFS (P = 0.015; hazard ratio, 2.25; 95% confidence interval, 1.17–4.34). Only 1 of 24 (4%) node-negative patients with low hCGβ-3, -5, -8 expression relapsed, in contrast to 7 of 26 (27%) patients with high expression (P = 0.046). Conclusions: Expression of hCGβ-3, -5, -8, which differ by only one nucleotide from other hCGβ genes, can be assessed by our modified Molecular Beacon assay in breast cancer tissues. Expression of hCGβ-3, -5, -8 has independent, prognostic value for RFS in breast cancer and may help identify node-negative patients with poor prognosis.