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Significance of Aberrant Expression of MicroRNAs in Cancer Cells

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Bioinformatics in Cancer and Cancer Therapy

Part of the book series: Cancer Drug Discovery and Development ((CDD&D))

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Abstract

Alterations in miRNA genes and other non-coding RNAs play a critical role in the pathophysiology of all human cancers: cancer initiation and progression can involve microRNAs (miRNAs) – small non-coding RNAs that can regulate gene expression. At present, the main mechanism of microRNoma (defined as the full complement of microRNAs present in a genome) alteration in cancer cells seems to be represented by aberrant gene expression, characterized by abnormal levels of expression for mature and/or precursor miRNA sequences in comparison with the corresponding normal tissues. MicroRNAs expression profiling has been exploited to identify miRNAs that are potentially involved in the pathogenesis of human cancers. MicroRNAs and other non-coding RNAs profiling achieved by various methods has allowed the identification of signatures associated with diagnosis, staging, progression, prognosis, and response to treatment of human tumors.

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Acknowledgements

Dr Calin is supported by the CLL Global Research Foundation and by an MD Anderson Trust grant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Experimental Therapeutics Department, MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston TX 77030, USA, Room Y6.6079 Unit 36

    George A. Calin, Chang-gong Liu, Manuela Ferracin, Stefano Volinia, Massimo Negrini & Carlo M. Croce

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  1. George A. Calin
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  2. Chang-gong Liu
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  3. Manuela Ferracin
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  4. Stefano Volinia
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  1. Division of Thoracic Surgery, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Longwood Ave. 221, Boston, 02115, U.S.A.

    Gavin J. Gordon

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Calin, G., Liu, Cg., Ferracin, M., Volinia, S., Negrini, M., Croce, C. (2009). Significance of Aberrant Expression of MicroRNAs in Cancer Cells. In: Gordon, G. (eds) Bioinformatics in Cancer and Cancer Therapy. Cancer Drug Discovery and Development. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-576-3_5

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