title: Role of miRNA let-7 and its major targets in prostate cancer.
abstract: Prostate cancer is worldwide the sixth leading cause of cancer related death in men thus early detection and successful treatment are still of major interest. The commonly performed screening of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is controversially discussed, as in many patients the prostate-specific antigen levels are chronically elevated in the absence of cancer. Due to the unsatisfying efficiency of available prostate cancer screening markers and the current treatment outcome of the aggressive hormone refractory prostate cancer, the evaluation of novel molecular markers and targets is considered an issue of high importance. MicroRNAs are relatively stable in body fluids orchestrating simultaneously the expression of many genes. These molecules are currently discussed to bear a greater diagnostic potential than protein-coding genes, being additionally promising therapeutic drugs and/or targets. Herein we review the potential impact of the microRNA let-7 family on prostate cancer and show how deregulation of several of its target genes could influence the cellular equilibrium in the prostate gland, promoting cancer development as they do in a variety of other human malignant neoplasias.
authors.affiliation: Small Animal Clinic, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559 Hannover, Germany ; Institute of Biophysics, University Hannover, 30419 Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Siegfried
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6395-6101
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biophysics, University Hannover, 30419 Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Anaclet
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3686-923X
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ngezahayo
authors.affiliation: Small Animal Clinic, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559 Hannover, Germany ; Division of Medicine, Department of Haematology/Oncology, University of Rostock, 18057 Rostock, Germany.
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7123-7986
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Murua Escobar
authors.affiliation: Small Animal Clinic, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559 Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Ingo
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4577-3739
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nolte
mesh_terms: D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D052138:Genes, Neoplasm; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs