title: Significance of microRNA 21 in gastric cancer.
abstract: Despite promising developments of treatment, the mortality due to gastric cancer remains high and the mechanisms of gastric cancer initiation and the development also remains elusive. It has been reported that patients with positive serologic tests for H. pylori have a higher risk of the development of gastric cancer. microRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNA molecules consisting of 21-25 nucleotides (nt) in length. The miRNAs silence their cognate target genes by inhibiting mRNA translation or degrading the mRNA molecules by binding to their 3'-untranslated (UTR) regions and plays a very important role in cancer biology. Recent evidences indicate that miR-21 is overexpressed in tumour tissue, including gastric cancer and plays a vital role in tumour cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion and angiogenesis. Elevated levels of miR-21 is associated with downregulation of tumour suppressor genes, such as programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 3, phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), tropomyosin 1, ras homolog gene family member B, and maspin. Silencing of miR-21 through the use of a miR-21 inhibitor affected cancer cell viability, induced cell cycle arrest and increased chemosensitivity to anticancer agents indicating that miR-21 functions as an oncogene. Although an increased expression level of miR-21 has been observed in gastric cancer, studies related to the role of miR-21 in gastric cancer progression is very limited. The main thrust of this mini review is to explain the potency of miR-21 as a prognostic and/or diagnostic biomarker and as a new target for clinical therapeutic for interventions of gastric cancer progression.
authors.affiliation: Narayana Medical College and Hospital, Chintha Reddy Palem, Nellore 524002, India; Stem Cell Division, Cryovault Biotech India Pvt. Ltd, Bangalore 560016, India. Electronic address: duraimku@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Durairaj
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sekar
authors.affiliation: Narayana Medical College and Hospital, Chintha Reddy Palem, Nellore 524002, India.
authors.forename: Ramalingam
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Krishnan
authors.affiliation: State Bio-control Laboratory, Perunthalaivar Kamaraj Krishi Vigyan Kendra (PKKVK), Kurumbapet, Puducherry 605 009, India.
authors.forename: Krishnaraj
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thirugnanasambantham
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pondicherry University, RV Nagar, Pondicherry 6-5014, India.
authors.forename: Baskaran
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rajasekaran
authors.affiliation: Pondicherry Centre for Biological Sciences, Jawahar Nagar, Pondicherry 605 005, India.
authors.forename: Villianur Ibrahim Hairul
authors.initials: VI
authors.lastname: Islam
authors.affiliation: Stem Cell Division, Cryovault Biotech India Pvt. Ltd, Bangalore 560016, India.
authors.forename: Punitha
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sekar
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D063646:Carcinogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D018450:Disease Progression; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000378:metabolism; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000378:metabolism*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D035683:MicroRNAs; C115460:RECK protein, human