title: The role of microRNA in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNA) are 22-nucleotide non-coding RNAs that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression by base pairing to partially complementary sequences in the 3'-untranslated region of their target messenger RNA. Altered miRNA expression also changes the expression of oncogenes and tumor suppressors, affecting the proliferation, apoptosis, motility and invasibility of gastrointestinal cancer cells, including the cells of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). It has been suggested that various miRNA expression profiles may provide useful biomarkers and therapeutic targets, but to date few studies have been published on the role of miRNA in ESCC. In this review we summarize the identification and characterization of miRNAs involved in ESCC and discuss their potential as biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1 Honjo, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuto
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Harada
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1 Honjo, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshifumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Baba
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1 Honjo, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan.
authors.forename: Takatsugu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishimoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1 Honjo, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan.
authors.forename: Hironobu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shigaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1 Honjo, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan.
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kosumi
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1 Honjo, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Cancer Institute Hospital, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, 3-8-31 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo, 135-8550, Japan.
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1 Honjo, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan. hdobaba@kumamoto-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Baba
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D000077277:Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs
keywords: Biomarkers; Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; MicroRNA; Review; Therapeutic targets