title: MicroRNAs and their target gene networks in renal cell carcinoma.
abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-protein-coding short single stranded RNAs in the size range 19-25 nucleotides that are associated with gene regulation at the transcriptional and translational level. Recent studies have proved that miRNAs play important roles in a large number of biological processes, including cellular differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis, etc. Changes in their expression were found in a variety of human cancers, including renal cell carcinoma pathogenesis. Specific miRNA alterations were associated with key pathogenetic mechanisms of renal cell carcinoma like hypoxia or epithelial-mesenchymal transition. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of miRNA functions in renal cell carcinoma with an emphasis on miRNAs potential to serve as a powerful biomarker of disease and a novel therapeutic target in oncology.
authors.affiliation: Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, Department of Comprehensive Cancer Care, Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Redova
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Svoboda
authors.forename: Ondrej
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Slaby
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D015687:Cell Hypoxia; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D053263:Gene Regulatory Networks; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs