Am J Cancer Res 2012;2(4):414-433
Review Article
MicroRNAs in cancer treatment and prognosis
Cláudia Regina Gasque Schoof, Eder Leite da Silva Botelho, Alberto Izzotti, Luciana dos Reis Vasques
Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Rua Mirassol, 207, Vila Clementino, 04044-020, Sao Paulo, Brazil;
Department of Genetic and Evolutionary Biology, University of Sao Paulo, Rua do Matão, 277, 05508-090, Sao Paulo, Brazil;
Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Via A. Pastore 1, 16132, Genoa, Italy
Received May 2, 2012; accepted June 5, 2012; Epub June 28, 2012; Published July 15, 2012
Abstract: Disturbances in microRNA expression by epigenetic alterations and mutations may promote not only tumorigenesis
but also tumor aggressiveness, invasion, metastasis, and resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Several studies have
profiled microRNA expression in normal and tumorigenic tissues, demonstrating a unique microRNA signature, which can be
used as a marker for cancer diagnosis and prognosis. This review discusses the importance of microRNAs as regulatory
biomolecules involved in cancer, focusing on microRNAs related to cancer invasion, metastasis, epigenetic alterations,
chemoresistance, and radioresistance. The identification of both differentially expressed microRNAs in tumors and their target
genes provides new tools for gene therapy; the re-expression of microRNAs silenced by cancer development or the silencing of
oncogenic microRNAs can be effective in the blockade of cancer-related cell proliferation. (AJCR0000120).
Keywords: MicroRNA, epigenetic modifications, metastasis, chemotherapy, radiotherapy
Address all correspondence to:
Dr. Alberto Izzotti
Department of Health Sciences
University of Genoa
Via A. Pastore 1, 16132
Genoa, Italy.
E-mail address: izzotti@unige.it
Review Article
MicroRNAs in cancer treatment and prognosis
Cláudia Regina Gasque Schoof, Eder Leite da Silva Botelho, Alberto Izzotti, Luciana dos Reis Vasques
Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Rua Mirassol, 207, Vila Clementino, 04044-020, Sao Paulo, Brazil;
Department of Genetic and Evolutionary Biology, University of Sao Paulo, Rua do Matão, 277, 05508-090, Sao Paulo, Brazil;
Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Via A. Pastore 1, 16132, Genoa, Italy
Received May 2, 2012; accepted June 5, 2012; Epub June 28, 2012; Published July 15, 2012
Abstract: Disturbances in microRNA expression by epigenetic alterations and mutations may promote not only tumorigenesis
but also tumor aggressiveness, invasion, metastasis, and resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Several studies have
profiled microRNA expression in normal and tumorigenic tissues, demonstrating a unique microRNA signature, which can be
used as a marker for cancer diagnosis and prognosis. This review discusses the importance of microRNAs as regulatory
biomolecules involved in cancer, focusing on microRNAs related to cancer invasion, metastasis, epigenetic alterations,
chemoresistance, and radioresistance. The identification of both differentially expressed microRNAs in tumors and their target
genes provides new tools for gene therapy; the re-expression of microRNAs silenced by cancer development or the silencing of
oncogenic microRNAs can be effective in the blockade of cancer-related cell proliferation. (AJCR0000120).
Keywords: MicroRNA, epigenetic modifications, metastasis, chemotherapy, radiotherapy
Address all correspondence to:
Dr. Alberto Izzotti
Department of Health Sciences
University of Genoa
Via A. Pastore 1, 16132
Genoa, Italy.
E-mail address: izzotti@unige.it
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American Journal of Cancer Research
| ISSN: 2156-6976 |