A liposome-based assay for cancer biomarker detection: exploring the correlation between platelet-derived microvesicles and NSCLC-associated miRNAs

Abstract

Advances in molecular biology have enabled the identification of numerous cancer biomarkers, offering the potential to improve the diagnosis and prognosis of cancer. In non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the role of platelet-derived microvesicles (PMVs) in cancer progression has received limited attention. While previous studies have focused on the increase of extracellular vesicles in plasma and their interaction with cancer, the expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) delivered through PMVs following platelet activation has remained largely unexplored. This study fills this knowledge gap by investigating miRNA expression in PMVs isolated from healthy donors and NSCLC patients following calcium treatment, a known platelet activator. A significant correlation was found between PMV levels and the expression of specific miRNAs; specifically, miRNA-21 expression increased 7.89 ± 0.44-fold in NSCLC patients and 7.12 ± 0.49-fold in healthy donors after calcium treatment. These findings highlight the potential of PMVs and their miRNA cargo to serve as specific biomarkers for NSCLC, offering valuable insights into cancer diagnosis and prognosis. To facilitate the sensitive detection of these miRNAs, a novel carboxyfluorescein (CF)-loaded liposome-based assay was developed. This assay demonstrated enhanced sensitivity, achieving a detection limit of 1.03 pg mL⁻¹, when combined with a calcium platelet-activation approach. This research has the potential to lead to the development of innovative diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies, ultimately improving outcomes for patients with NSCLC and other cancers.