MicroRNA Machinery Genes as Novel Biomarkers for Cancer

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) directly and indirectly affect tumorigenesis. To be able to perform their myriad roles, miRNA machinery genes, such as Drosha, DGCR8, Dicer1, XPO5, TRBP, and AGO2, must generate precise miRNAs. These genes have specific expression patterns, protein-binding partners, and biochemical capabilities in different cancers. Our preliminary analysis of data from The Cancer Genome Atlas consortium on multiple types of cancer revealed significant alterations in these miRNA machinery genes. Here, we review their biological structures and functions with an eye toward understanding how they could serve as cancer biomarkers.

MiR-205 promotes motility of ovarian cancer cells via targeting ZEB1

“…According to the functions of their target genes, miRNAs act as either oncogenes or tumor suppressors [7,8]. They regulate the key signaling pathways in different cancer cells, and changes in their expression can greatly influence the protein expression patterns, leading to a series of malignant phenotypes.…”

Prognostic significance of combined microRNA-206 and CyclinD2 in gastric cancer patients after curative surgery: A retrospective cohort study

“…It is a crucial step to better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of gastric cancer, which have not been fully elucidated, in order to identify novel prognostic markers and therapeutic targets for the improvement in the low survival outcome and the assistance in the earlier diagnosis of this disease. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of short noncoding RNA molecules with 18 $ 25 nucleotides in length, carry out various biological functions by repressing the expression of their target genes at the post-translational level through base-pairing with endogenous mRNAs [7]. Growing evidence show that miRNAs play important roles in a variety of biological processes related to apoptosis, proliferation, differentiation, metastasis, angiogenesis and immune response, dysregulation of which may be possibly crucial to cancer initiation, progression and treatment outcome [8].…”

Differential Expression of MicroRNAs in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

“…Deregulation in miRNA expression is associated with human diseases including cancer and inflammatory [10]. Several miRNAs such as miR-16, miR-26a, miR-29, miR-17-92 cluster, miR-146 and miR-155 are thought to be playing role in pulmonary development [11].…”