title: miRNAs in tumor radiation response: bystanders or participants?
abstract: There is increasing interest in defining a functional association between miRNAs and tumor radiation response, with the double aim of rationally designing miRNA-based strategies to increase patient radiosensitivity and identifying novel biomarkers of treatment response. Although it has been demonstrated that several miRNAs directly regulate the expression of components of cell pathways relevant to radiosensitivity, and miRNA expression profiles change upon irradiation, understanding the causal role exerted by individual miRNAs in determining tumor radiation response is still at an early stage. Based on available experimental and clinical evidence, we discuss here the potential of miRNAs as targets and/or tools for modulating radioresponsivity at the clinical level, as well as possible predictive biomarkers, underlining present limits and future perspectives.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gandellini
authors.affiliation: Prostate Cancer Program, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rancati
authors.affiliation: Prostate Cancer Program, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy; Department of Radiation Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Valdagni
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: nadia.zaffaroni@istitutotumori.mi.it.
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zaffaroni
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy / Q000379:methods; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000628:therapy; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011836:Radiation Tolerance / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D035683:MicroRNAs
keywords: miRNAs; prognostic biomarkers; radiation response; radiotherapy