title: MicroRNA-cancer connection: the beginning of a new tale.
abstract: Cancer initiation and progression can involve microRNAs (miRNA), which are small noncoding RNAs that can regulate gene expression. Their expression profiles can be used for the classification, diagnosis, and prognosis of human malignancies. Loss or amplification of miRNA genes has been reported in a variety of cancers, and altered patterns of miRNA expression may affect cell cycle and survival programs. Germ-line and somatic mutations in miRNAs or polymorphisms in the mRNAs targeted by miRNAs may also contribute to cancer predisposition and progression. We propose that alterations in miRNA genes play a critical role in the pathophysiology of many, perhaps all, human cancers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology, and Medical Genetics, Ohio State University, 400 12th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
authors.forename: George Adrian
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Calin
authors.forename: Carlo Maria
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Croce
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D009154:Mutation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D009710:Nucleotide Mapping
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs