MicroRNAs in gastrointestinal cancer: a novel biomarker and its clinical application

发表时间：2015-12-04 浏览次数：1087次

引用：

Hiyoshi Y, Watanabe M. MicroRNAs in gastrointestinal cancer: a novel biomarker a

关键词：

作者：

Yukiharu Hiyoshi, Masayuki Watanabe

作者单位：

Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Cancer

出版年份：

2015

期刊页数：

144-155

收录者：

其他外文数据库

摘要：

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers remain one of the most common malignancies and are the major cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Significant advancements have improved our understanding of the pathogenesis and pathology of GI cancers, but high mortality rates, an unfavorable prognosis, and lack of clinical predictive biomarkers provide an impetus to investigate novel diagnostic/prognostic markers and therapeutic targets for GI cancers. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short (19-24 nucleotides), non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level, thus playing an important role in modulating various biological processes. This includes developmental processes, proliferation, apoptosis, metabolism and differentiation, all involved in initiation and progression of various human cancers. Aberrant miRNA expression profiles have been observed in various cancer types at different stages, suggesting their potential as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. Due to their tumor- and tissue-specific expression profiles, stability, and the availability of robust clinical assays for their detection in serum as well as in formalin-fixed tissue samples, miRNAs have emerged as attractive candidates for diagnostic and prognostic applications. This review summarizes recent research supporting the utility of miRNAs as novel diagnostic/prognostic tools and therapeutic targets, thus potentially illuminating future treatment strategies for GI cancers.

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