title: MicroRNAs serving as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A critical review.
abstract: Despite significant medical advancement, nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remains one of the most difficult cancers to detect and treat where it continues to prevail especially among the Asian population. miRNAs could act as tumour suppressor genes or oncogenes in NPC. They play important roles in the pathogenesis of NPC by regulating specific target genes which are involved in various cellular processes and pathways. In particular, studies on miRNAs related to the Epstein Barr virus (EBV)-encoded latent membrane protein one (LMP1) and EBVmiRNA- BART miRNA confirmed the link between EBV and NPC. Both miRNA and its target genes could potentially be exploited for prognostic and therapeutic strategies. They are also important in predicting the sensitivity of NPC to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The detection of stable circulating miRNAs in plasma of NPC patients has raised the potential of miRNAs as novel diagnostic markers. To conclude, understanding the roles of miRNA in NPC will identify ways to improve the management of patients with NPC.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Molecular Pathology, School of Medicine, ​Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia; School of Postgraduate Studies and Research, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Katherine Ting-Wei
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Juan-King
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Cancer Molecular Pathology, School of Medicine, ​Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. Electronic address: a.lam@griffith.edu.au.
authors.forename: Alfred King-Yin
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Electronic address: sookyee_gan@imu.edu.my.
authors.forename: Sook-Yee
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Gan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002277:Carcinoma; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000150:complications; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000235:genetics; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D000077274:Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers; D035683:MicroRNAs
keywords: BART-miRNAs; Biomarkers; Cancer; Epstein-Barr virus; MicroRNA; Nasopharyngeal carcinoma; Prognostic; Therapeutic