title: MicroRNAs regulate several functions of normal tissues and malignancies.
abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs, miRs) are a cluster of naturally occurring small non-coding RNA molecules of 19-24 nucleotides in length. miRs control gene expression post-transcriptionally by binding to a specific site at the 3'-UTR of target mRNA, which results in mRNA cleavage and translation repression. Nearly 1000 miRs in the human genome have been identified, and it is believed that these miRs contribute to at least 60% of the human transcriptome. Recent research has shown that miRs are emerging as important regulators of cellular differentiation and dedifferentiation. In addition, dysregulation of miR expression may play a fundamental role in the onset, progression and dissemination of cancers. In this review, we focus on some paradigms of miR involvement in tumorigenesis, such as ovarian cancer, and also discuss the relationship between miRs and cancer stem cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kuo-Chang
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Pi-Ling
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ming-Shyen
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Yen
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chi-Mu
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wen-Shiung
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Liou
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Immunology Center, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Infection and Immunity Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan. Electronic address: phwang@vghtpe.gov.tw.
authors.forename: Peng-Hui
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D063646:Carcinogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D054337:Cell Dedifferentiation; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C524940:MIRN21 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs
keywords: cancer stem cell; microRNA; ovarian cancer