title: Role of microRNA-7 in digestive system malignancy.
abstract: There are several malignancies of the digestive system (including gastric, pancreatic and colorectal cancers, and hepatocellular carcinoma), which are the most common types of cancer and a major cause of death worldwide. MicroRNA (miR)-7 is abundant in the pancreas, playing an important role in pancreatic development and endocrine function. Expression of miR-7 is downregulated in digestive system malignancies compared with normal tissue. Although there are contrasting results for miR-7 expression, almost all research reveals that miR-7 is a tumor suppressor, by targeting various genes in specific pathways. Moreover, miR-7 can target different genes simultaneously in different malignancies of the digestive system. By acting on many cytokines, miR-7 is also involved in many gastrointestinal inflammatory diseases as a significant carcinogenic factor. Consequently, miR-7 might be a biomarker or therapeutic target gene in digestive system malignancies.
authors.affiliation: Wan-Qun Chen, Hai-Xia Deng, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510120, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Wan-Qun
authors.initials: WQ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Wan-Qun Chen, Hai-Xia Deng, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510120, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Wan-Qun Chen, Hai-Xia Deng, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510120, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Geng-Xin
authors.initials: GX
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Wan-Qun Chen, Hai-Xia Deng, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510120, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Hai-Xia
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Deng
keywords: Digestive system malignancy; Inflammation; MicroRNA-7; Target gene; Tumor biomarker