title: MicroRNA involvement in esophageal carcinogenesis.
abstract: MicroRNAs (miRs) have recently emerged as a novel class of gene expression regulators. The number of studies documenting an altered miR expression pattern in cancer continues to expand rapidly. Critical information is continuously gained regarding how aberrantly expressed miRs contribute to carcinogenesis. Current studies provide evidence that analyses of miR expression patterns have potential clinical applications toward developing tumor biomarkers to identify the presence and dissemination of esophageal cancer, as well as to assess tumor chemosensitivity or radiosensitivity. The incidence of esophageal cancer is on the rise, and this disease continues to portend a poor prognosis. The current review addresses ways in which altered miR expression contributes to esophageal carcinogenesis, along with how recent discoveries may be applied clinically.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Baltimore, MD, United States. sdavid@gbmc.org
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: David
authors: Stephen J
authors: SJ
authors: Meltzer
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018307:Neoplasms, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D034622:RNA Interference
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D035683:MicroRNAs; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins