Microribonucleic acids (miRNAs) are short, noncoding RNAs that act as post-transcription regulators and are able to modulate the expression of hundreds of target genes. In the past few years, they gained a very important role in oncology. Indeed, many of them can be now considered tumour suppressor genes or oncogenes. In cancer, they appeared to have a dysregulated expression due to genetic aberrations, altered methylation or irregular processing that finally lead to an altered modulation of their target genes. Each cancer type displayed specific alterations of specific miRNAs, and their exceptional stability confer to miRNAs a strong potential as cancer therapeutics. Finally, miRNAs are stable and detectable as circulating molecules in blood of cancer patients. For this reason they are going to become useful biomarkers in cancer diagnostics.
MicroRNAs and Their Role in Cancer
FERRACIN, Manuela;NEGRINI, Massimo
2012
Abstract
Microribonucleic acids (miRNAs) are short, noncoding RNAs that act as post-transcription regulators and are able to modulate the expression of hundreds of target genes. In the past few years, they gained a very important role in oncology. Indeed, many of them can be now considered tumour suppressor genes or oncogenes. In cancer, they appeared to have a dysregulated expression due to genetic aberrations, altered methylation or irregular processing that finally lead to an altered modulation of their target genes. Each cancer type displayed specific alterations of specific miRNAs, and their exceptional stability confer to miRNAs a strong potential as cancer therapeutics. Finally, miRNAs are stable and detectable as circulating molecules in blood of cancer patients. For this reason they are going to become useful biomarkers in cancer diagnostics.I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
