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The Biology and Diagnostic Applications of Plasma RNA
Department of Chemical Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
Address for correspondence: Y.M. Dennis Lo, Department of Chemical Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Room 38023, 1/F Clinical Sciences Building, Prince of Wales Hospital, 30-32 Ngan Shing Street, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China. Voice: +852-2632-2563; fax: +852-2194-6171. loym{at}cuhk.edu.hk Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 1022: 135-139 (2004).
The detection of cell-free RNA in the plasma and serum of human subjects has opened up new investigational opportunities. Tumor-derived RNA was detected in the plasma and serum of patients with various forms of cancer. Through the development of robust extraction and quantification protocols for circulating RNA, new information regarding its biology and characteristics has been obtained. Plasma RNA was shown to be particle associated and to be surprisingly stable. Recently, fetal RNA was also demonstrated in maternal plasma. The placenta was shown to be an important source of such circulating fetal RNA. This discovery has created new prenatal diagnostic and monitoring possibilities. It is expected that circulating RNA will find application in many other clinical scenarios, including emergency medicine.
Key Words: plasma RNA • prenatal diagnosis • circulating RNA This article has been cited by other articles:
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