title: MetastamiRs: non-coding MicroRNAs driving cancer invasion and metastasis.
abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs of ~22 nucleotides that function as negative regulators of gene expression by either inhibiting translation or inducing deadenylation-dependent degradation of target transcripts. Notably, deregulation of miRNAs expression is associated with the initiation and progression of human cancers where they act as oncogenes or tumor suppressors contributing to tumorigenesis. Abnormal miRNA expression may provide potential diagnostic and prognostic tumor biomarkers and new therapeutic targets in cancer. Recently, several miRNAs have been shown to initiate invasion and metastasis by targeting multiple proteins that are major players in these cellular events, thus they have been denominated as metastamiRs. Here, we present a review of the current knowledge of miRNAs in cancer with a special focus on metastamiRs. In addition we discuss their potential use as novel specific markers for cancer progression.
authors.affiliation: Genomics Sciences Program, Oncogenomics and Cancer Proteomics Laboratory, Autonomous University of Mexico City, Avenue San Lorenzo 290, 03100, Mexico.
authors.forename: Cesar
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lopez-Camarillo
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Program, Institutional Program of Molecular Biomedicine, National School of Medicine and Homeopathy of the National Polytechnic Institute, Guillermo Massieu Helguera 239, 07320, Mexico.
authors.forename: Laurence A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Marchat
authors.affiliation: Carcinogenesis Laboratory, National Institute of Cancerology, Avenue San Fernando 22, 14080, Mexico.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arechaga-Ocampo
authors.affiliation: Massive Sequencing Unit, National Institute of Cancerology, Avenue San Fernando 22, 14080, Mexico.|Genomics Laboratory, FES-I, UBIMED, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Avenue de los Barrios 1, 54090, Mexico.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Perez-Plasencia
authors.affiliation: Academic Unit of Biological Chemistry Sciences, Molecular Biomedicine Laboratory, Autonomous University of Guerrero, Lazaro Cárdenas S/N Col, Haciendita, Chilpancingo Guerrero, 39090, Mexico.
authors.forename: Oscar Del
authors.initials: OD
authors.lastname: Moral-Hernandez
authors.affiliation: Genomics Sciences Program, Oncogenomics and Cancer Proteomics Laboratory, Autonomous University of Mexico City, Avenue San Lorenzo 290, 03100, Mexico.
authors.forename: Elizabeth J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Castaneda-Ortiz
authors.affiliation: Institute of Breast Diseases-FUCAM, Avenue Bordo 100, 04980, Mexico.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Cuevas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D035683:MicroRNAs; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm