OBJECTIVEThis review aimed to update the progress of microRNA (miRNA) in early detection of ovarian cancer. We discussed the current clinical diagnosis methods and biomarkers of ovarian cancer, especially the methods of miRNA in early detection of ovarian cancer.

DATA SOURCESWe collected all relevant studies about miRNA and ovarian cancer in PubMed and CNKI from 1995 to 2015.

STUDY SELECTIONWe included all relevant studies concerning miRNA in early detection of ovarian cancer, and excluded the duplicated articles.

RESULTSmiRNAs play a key role in various biological processes of ovarian cancer, such as development, proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and metastasis, and these phenomena appear in the early-stage. Therefore, miRNA can be used as a new biomarker for early diagnosis of ovarian cancer, intervention on miRNA expression of known target genes, and potential target genes can achieve the effect of early prevention. With the development of nanoscience and technology, analysis methods of miRNA are also quickly developed, which may provide better characterization of early detection of ovarian cancer.

CONCLUSIONSIn the near future, miRNA therapy could be a powerful tool for ovarian cancer prevention and treatment, and combining with the new analysis technology and new nanomaterials, point-of-care tests for miRNA with high throughput, high sensitivity, and strong specificity are developed to achieve the application of diagnostic kits in screening of early ovarian cancer.