title: RNA activation: promise as a new weapon against cancer.
abstract: RNA activation (RNAa) is a novel mechanism in which short RNA duplexes, referred to as small activating RNAs (saRNAs), enable sequence-specific gene activation capable of lasting up to 2 weeks. RNAa was named in contrast to RNA interference (RNAi). Although many mysteries remain, increasing evidence demonstrates that RNAa not only provides a novel mechanism for the study of gene function and regulation, but also holds exciting potential for clinical translation to therapeutic modality against cancers. In this review, we will focus on the potential applications of RNAa in cancer studies and therapeutics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotherapy, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China; Cancer Research Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotherapy, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China; Cancer Research Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China.
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China.
authors.forename: Jinfeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gan
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotherapy, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China; Cancer Research Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China; Tumor Tissue Bank, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China. Electronic address: haozhang@stu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D015533:Transcriptional Activation
chemical_list: D012313:RNA
keywords: Epigenetic; Gene function; Non-coding RNA; RNA-based therapeutics; Small RNA-mediated transcriptional activation; Tumor suppressor