title: MicroRNAs--the micro steering wheel of tumour metastases.
abstract: Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been discovered to have a role in metastasis. Here we describe how miRNAs are involved in advanced stages of tumour progression, stressing their roles as metastasis activators or suppressors, and discuss their possible use in the clinic as predictive markers and as therapeutic strategies for patients with metastases. Furthermore, we develop the concept that the same miRNAs could be involved both in the cancer stem cell phenotype and in the ability of specific cancer cells to produce metastases, thus representing a mechanistic link between the initial and the final steps of tumorigenesis.
authors.affiliation: Experimental Therapeutics Department, MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Milena S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Nicoloso
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Spizzo
authors.forename: Masayoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: George A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Calin
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D035683:MicroRNAs