title: MicroRNA involvement in hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Curative options for HCC are limited and exclusively available for patients carrying an early stage HCC. In advanced stages, traditional chemotherapy proved to be only marginally effective or even toxic. Thus, the identification of new treatment options is needed. New targets for non-conventional treatment will necessarily take advantage of progresses on the molecular pathogenesis of HCC. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of tiny RNAs with a fundamental role in the regulation of gene expression. Aberrant expression of several miRNAs was found to be involved in human hepatocarcinogenesis. miRNA expression signatures were correlated with bio-pathological and clinical features of HCC. In some cases, aberrantly expressed miRNAs could be linked to cancer-associated pathways, indicating a direct role in liver tumourigenesis. For example, up-regulation of mir-221 and mir-21 could promote cell cycle progression, reduce cell death and favour angiogenesis and invasion. These findings suggest that miRNAs could become novel molecular targets for HCC treatment. The demonstration of in vivo efficacy and safety of anti-miRNA compounds has opened the way to their use in clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gramantieri
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fornari
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Callegari
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sabbioni
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lanza
authors.forename: Carlo M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Croce
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bolondi
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Negrini
mesh_terms: D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs