The utility of LNA in microRNA-based cancer diagnostics and therapeutics.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a novel class of small endogenous non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally by binding to their cognate target mRNAs. Emerging evidence implies that miRNAs play important roles in cancer and thus, miRNAs have rapidly emerged as valuable markers for cancer diagnostics and promising targets for therapeutics. Locked nucleic acid (LNA) is a conformational RNA analoque that binds complementary RNA with unprecedented affinity and specificity. These properties make LNA well suited for miRNA detection and analysis for cancer diagnostics. Furthermore, recent studies on LNA-mediated silencing of miRNA function in vitro and in vivo support the potential of LNA in therapeutic intervention of cancer-associated miRNAs.
Stenvang
Jan
J
Wilhelm Johannsen Centre for Functional Genome Research, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark.
Silahtaroglu
Asli N
AN
Lindow
Morten
M
Elmen
Joacim
J
Kauppinen
Sakari
S
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D009841:Oligonucleotides / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D034622:RNA Interference
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D035683:MicroRNAs; D009841:Oligonucleotides; C477371:locked nucleic acid