title: Insight into the role of microRNAs in brain tumors (review).
abstract: MicroRNAs (MiRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs able to regulate gene expression             at a posttranscriptional level. Recent evidence indicates that they play a crucial             role in the initiation and progression of human cancers. In this review we briefly             describe microRNA biogenesis and function, giving a more detailed account of the             current state of knowledge concerning the role of microRNAs in brain tumors and             stem-like tumor cells. MicroRNAs control brain tumor development by regulating             multiple biological characteristics such as proliferation, invasion, differentiation             and angiogenesis. Research in this field is rapidly spreading and encourages potential             applications of microRNAs as diagnostic and prognostic tools, in addition to therapeutic             targets and tools, to grant clinical benefits to patients suffering of brain tumors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bio-medical Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy. alessiacatania@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Catania
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Maira
authors.forename: Evangelia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Skarmoutsou
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: D'Amico
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Abounader
authors.forename: Maria Clorinda
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Mazzarino
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs