title: MicroRNAs: small molecules with a potentially role in oral squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that post-transcriptionally modulate gene expression by degrading or repressing the translation of target messenger RNAs (mRNA). Aberrant miRNA expression has been reported in OSCC, and this altered expression may be useful for the early detection of oral cancer. In this review we highlight the miRNAs profile of OSCC, the possible mechanisms underlying their altered expression together with their function in oral cancer development and progression. The modulation of miRNAs makes these small molecules potential markers for early oral cancer diagnosis and prognostic prediction as well as potential molecular tools for its treatment. Translational studies focusing on miRNAs could lead to the development of new tools for the management of patients with OSCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Biological Sciences Institute, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carolina Cavaliéri
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: Sílvia Ferreira
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: de Sousa
authors.forename: Ricardo Santiago
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Gomez
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy; D018450:Disease Progression; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs