微小RNA是一类小RNA，能够与大量的RNA结合，在转录后水平通过抑制或降解特定mRNA调控基因表达。细胞内的miRNA是细胞生长、分化和凋亡等功能的主要调节因子，并显著影响细胞功能。 miRNA的表达水平在包括癌症在内的人类疾病中发生变化，这些变化突显了它们在癌症发病机制中的重要作用。通过使用全基因组鉴定技术，已在各种人类癌症中检测到普遍不规则的miRNA表达谱，这些技术正在成为高特异性和高敏感性的新型癌症诊断和预后标志物。在血液、组织和其他体液中具有增强稳定性的可测量miRNA为人类癌症提供了广泛的miRNA依赖性生物标志物来源。本文讨论了miRNA作为潜在生物标志物在人类癌症中的领导作用，同时探讨了miRNA作为生物标志物的兴趣和困难。

MicroRNAs are small RNAs with ability to attach to the large number of RNA that regulate gene expression on post-transcriptional level via inhibition or degradation of specific mRNAs. MiRNAs in cells are the primary regulators of functions such as cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis and considerably influence cell function. The expression levels of microRNAs change in human diseases, including cancer. These changes highlight their essential role in cancer pathogenesis. Ubiquitous irregular expression profiles of miRNAs have been detected in various human cancers using genome-wide identification techniques, which are emerging as novel diagnostic and prognostic cancer biomarkers of high specificity and sensitivity. The measurable miRNAs with enhanced stability in blood, tissues, and other body fluids provide a comprehensive source of miRNA-dependent biomarkers for human cancers. The leading role of miRNAs as potential biomarkers in human cancers is discussed in this article. In addition, the interests and difficulties of miRNAs as biomarkers have been explored.©2023 The Authors.