Numerous miRNAs are deregulated in human cancers and may act either as oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes. Similarly to other cancer genes, deregulation of miRNA-coding genes may be associated with genetic or epigenetic alterations, such as deletions, amplifications, point mutations and aberrant DNA methylation. However, the most frequent mechanism for miRNA deregulation is through aberrant transcriptional control. Aberrant miRNA expression has been linked to cell cycle progression, loss of differentiation, increased survival, invasion and metastasis. The discovery that miRNAs interacts with known oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes has established links with molecular pathways implicated in malignant transformation. These findings hold the promise that miRNAs could become important diagnostic and therapeutic tools.
microRNAs and control of cancer-associated molecular pathways
NEGRINI, Massimo
2008
Abstract
Numerous miRNAs are deregulated in human cancers and may act either as oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes. Similarly to other cancer genes, deregulation of miRNA-coding genes may be associated with genetic or epigenetic alterations, such as deletions, amplifications, point mutations and aberrant DNA methylation. However, the most frequent mechanism for miRNA deregulation is through aberrant transcriptional control. Aberrant miRNA expression has been linked to cell cycle progression, loss of differentiation, increased survival, invasion and metastasis. The discovery that miRNAs interacts with known oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes has established links with molecular pathways implicated in malignant transformation. These findings hold the promise that miRNAs could become important diagnostic and therapeutic tools.I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.