title: microRNAs in the Malignant Transformation Process.
abstract: Many cancers originate as benign neoplasms that transform into malignant cancerous tumors in a multistep progression that is regulated, in part, by microRNAs. Benign neoplasms, by definition, lack the ability to invade adjacent tissues or spread to distant sites through metastasis. The benign to malignant transition is a critical intervention stage as tumors diagnosed in subsequent nonlocalized and malignant stages are exponentially more difficult to treat successfully. This chapter explores the critical roles that microRNAs play in the transformation from benign to malignant in four representative cancers: colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor, and prostate cancer. Understanding how these microRNAs control this progression and transformation will lead to new therapeutic targets and diagnostic biomarkers, resulting in improved treatments and patient outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, MMC 195, 11-211 Moos Tower, 515 Delaware Street, S.E., Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
authors.forename: Anne E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Sarver
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, MMC 195, 11-211 Moos Tower, 515 Delaware Street, S.E., Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
authors.forename: Lihua
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Center for Orphan Drug Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Reena V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Kartha
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, MMC 195, 11-211 Moos Tower, 515 Delaware Street, S.E., Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA. subree@umn.edu.
authors.forename: Subbaya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Subramanian
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics*; D018450:Disease Progression; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D008957:Models, Genetic; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D035683:MicroRNAs
keywords: Benign to malignant transformation; Biomarkers; Colorectal cancer; Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor; Pancreatic cancer; Prostate cancer; microRNA