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The Role of MicroRNAs in the Management of Liver Cancer

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Cancer Epigenetics

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 863))

Abstract

Four major components of epigenetic regulation are promoter methylation, histone modification, chromatin conformation changes, and altered expression of noncoding RNAs, especially microRNAs (miRNAs). MiRNAs are noncoding RNAs of single-stranded RNA molecules consisting of ∼22 nucleotides that regulate gene expression at the posttranscriptional level. MiRNAs are endogenous and potentially can regulate every aspect of cellular activity, including development and proliferation, differentiation, metabolism, viral infection, epigenetic modulation, apoptotic cell death, and tumor genesis. Recent studies provide evidence that miRNAs are abundant in the liver and affect a diverse spectrum of liver functions. MiRNA expression and deregulation of miRNAs may be a major pathogenetic factor in many liver diseases. Although global downregulation is a common trait in human malignancies, including viral hepatitis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and polycystic liver diseases, specific miRNAs are upregulated in cancer and offer new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies to manage liver diseases. Here, the current status of the role of miRNAs in liver cancer is discussed along with areas for future research.

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Abbreviations

AFP:

Alpha-fetoprotein

HCC:

Hepatocellular carcinoma

HCV:

Hepatitis C virus

IFN α/β:

Interferon alpha/beta

MiRNAs:

MicroRNAs

pri-miRNA:

Primary microRNA

RISC:

RNA-induced silencing complex

RNAi:

RNA interference

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Acknowledgement

We are thankful to Dr. Sita D. Gupta (Uniform Health Sciences University of Health) for the suggestions to improve the manuscript. We are also thankful to Christine Kaefer and Joanne Brodsky for reading the manuscript and providing their comments.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA

    Krishna K. Banaudha

  2. Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA

    Mukesh Verma

Authors
  1. Krishna K. Banaudha
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  2. Mukesh Verma
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Krishna K. Banaudha .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Medicine, Saba University, Saba, Dutch Antilles

    Ramona G. Dumitrescu

  2. National Institutes of Health (NIH), Div. Cancer Control &, National Cancer Institute, Executive Blvd. 6130Suite 5100, Bethesda, 20892-7324, Maryland, USA

    Mukesh Verma

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Banaudha, K.K., Verma, M. (2012). The Role of MicroRNAs in the Management of Liver Cancer. In: Dumitrescu, R., Verma, M. (eds) Cancer Epigenetics. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 863. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-612-8_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-612-8_14

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-61779-611-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-61779-612-8

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