title: Apoptosis and microRNA aberrations in cancer.
abstract: Carcinogenesis arises from the malfunction of genes that control cell growth and division. Therefore, the most effective method of hindering tumourigenesis is to induce the death of immortalized cancer cells. Apoptosis or programmed cell death has shown the most promises in impairing cancer growth. A variety of proteins is involved in the regulation of apoptosis and the malfunction of any these regulators may cause cell proliferation. The microRNAs have been shown to play a central role in the regulation of the cell cycle, including apoptosis. The microRNAs are involved in post-transcriptional gene suppression and have been implicated in the regulation of cell differentiation and development. Aberrations in the microRNA regulation of apoptosis lead to tumourigenesis. The present review assesses the current knowledge of apoptotic regulation in cancer and the effect of microRNA aberrations in tumourigenesis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular and Gene Therapies, Griffith Institute for Health and Medical Research, School of Medical Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Qld, Australia.
authors.forename: Chun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Saeed M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hashimi
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Good
authors.forename: Siyu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: Prue N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Plummer
authors.forename: Albert S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Mellick
authors.forename: Ming Q
authors.initials: MQ
authors.lastname: Wei
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D035683:MicroRNAs