title: The role of microRNAs in melanoma.
abstract: Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer, being largely resistant to conventional therapies at advanced stages. Understanding the molecular mechanisms behind this disease might be the key for the development of novel therapeutic strategies. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that post-transcriptionally control gene expression, thereby regulating various cellular signaling pathways involved in the initiation and progression of different cancer types, including melanoma. In this review, we summarize approaches for the identification of candidate miRNAs and their target genes and review the functions of miRNAs in melanoma. Finally, we highlight the recent progress in pre-clinical use of miRNAs as prognostic markers and therapeutic targets.
authors.affiliation: Translational Immunology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany. Electronic address: c.luo@dkfz.de.
authors.forename: Chonglin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Translational Immunology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Claudia E M
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.affiliation: Translational Immunology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Wolfram
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Osen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Anja-Katrin
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Bosserhoff
authors.affiliation: Translational Immunology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany. Electronic address: s.eichmueller@dkfz.de.
authors.forename: Stefan B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Eichmüller
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009857:Oncogenes; D011379:Prognosis; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D035683:MicroRNAs
keywords: Bioinformatics; Diagnosis; Expression profiling; Melanoma; MicroRNA; Oncogene; Target identification; Therapy; Tumor marker; Tumor suppressor