A study of microRNAsin silicoandin vivo : FEBS Journal, The (original) (raw)

diagnostic and therapeutic applications in cancer

Scott A. Waldman
Andre Terzic

FEBS Journal, The

276

(

)

2157

2164

April 2009

| DOI: 10.1111/j.1742-4658.2009.06934.x

There is emerging evidence of the production in human tumors of abnormal levels of microRNAs (miRNAs), which have been assigned oncogenic and/or tumor-suppressor functions. While some miRNAs commonly exhibit altered amounts across tumors, more often, different tumor types produce unique patterns of miRNAs, related to their tissue of origin. The role of miRNAs in tumorigenesis underscores their value as mechanism-based therapeutic targets in cancer. Similarly, unique patterns of altered levels of miRNA production provide fingerprints that may serve as molecular biomarkers for tumor diagnosis, classification, prognosis of disease-specific outcomes and prediction of therapeutic responses.