Circulating microRNAs in cancer: origin, function and application - PubMed (original) (raw)

Review

Circulating microRNAs in cancer: origin, function and application

Ruimin Ma et al. J Exp Clin Cancer Res. 2012.

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression at the posttranscriptional level. The dysregulation of miRNAs has been linked to a series of diseases, including various types of cancer. Since their discovery in the circulation of cancer patients, there has been a steady increase in the study of circulating miRNAs as stable, non-invasive biomarkers. However, the origin and function of circulating miRNAs has not been systematically elucidated. In this review, we summarize the discovery of circulating miRNAs and their potential as biomarkers. We further emphasize their possible origin and function. Finally, we discuss the application and existing questions surrounding circulating miRNAs in cancer diagnostics. Although several challenges remain to be concerned, circulating miRNAs could be useful, non-invasive biomarkers for cancer diagnosis.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1

Figure 1

Functional pattern of circulating miRNAs in cancer cells. Circulating miRNAs released by tumor cells may involve in angiogenesis, distant immunoregulation and vascular mimicry of tumor cells. Periphery immunocytes may secrete tumor-suppressive miRNAs to block tumor growth and propagation.

References

    1. Li M, Li J, Ding X, He M, Cheng SY. microRNA and cancer. AAPS J. 2010;12:309–317. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Friedman RC, Farh KK, Burge CB, Bartel DP. Most mammalian mRNAs are conserved targets of microRNAs. Genome Res. 2009;19:92–105. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Siomi H, Siomi MC. Posttranscriptional regulation of microRNA biogenesis in animals. Mol Cell. 2010;38:323–332. - PubMed
    1. Kosaka N, Iguchi H, Ochiya T. Circulating microRNA in body fluid: a new potential biomarker for cancer diagnosis and prognosis. Cancer Sci. 2010;101:2087–2092. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Shell S, Park SM, Radjabi AR, Schickel R, Kistner EO, Jewell DA, Feig C, Lengyel E, Peter ME. Let-7 expression defines two differentiation stages of cancer. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007;104:11400–11405. - PMC - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

LinkOut - more resources