MicroRNAs and other small silencing RNAs in cancer

IUBMB Life. 2010 Dec;62(12):859-68. doi: 10.1002/iub.399.

Abstract

Small noncoding RNAs are key controllers of cellular function, and their deregulation can lead to cancer development and metastatic evolution. This review summarizes the most important examples of small RNAs involved in human cancer and discusses their clinical use as biomarkers and drug targets for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of cancer. We also describe the possible mechanisms underlying small RNA-mediated transformation and outline the future describing new small RNA families with great potential in cancer biology.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • MicroRNAs* / genetics
  • MicroRNAs* / metabolism
  • MicroRNAs* / therapeutic use
  • Neoplasm Metastasis* / diagnosis
  • Neoplasm Metastasis* / pathology
  • Neoplasm Metastasis* / therapy
  • Neoplasms* / diagnosis
  • Neoplasms* / etiology
  • Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Neoplasms* / metabolism
  • Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Neoplasms* / therapy
  • Prognosis
  • RNA Interference

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • MicroRNAs