title: MicroRNAs role as potential biomarkers and key regulators in melanoma.
abstract: Malignant melanoma (MM) is a highly aggressive skin cancer with high incidence worldwide. It originates from melanocytes and is characterized by invasion, early metastasis and despite the use of new drugs it is still characterized by high mortality. Since an early diagnosis determines a better prognosis, it is important to explore novel prognostic markers in the management of patients with MM. microRNAs (miRNAs) are small (∼22 nucleotides) single-stranded non-coding RNAs that negatively regulate the expression of more than 60% of human genes.miRNAs alterations are involved in several cancers, including MM, where a differential expression for some of them has been reported between healthy controls and MM patients. Moreover, since miRNAs are stable and easily detectable in body fluids, they might be considered as robust candidate biomarkers useful to identify risk of MM, to diagnose an early lesion and/or an early metastatic disease. This review highlights the importance of miRNAs as risk factors, prognostic factors and their role as molecular regulator in the development and progression of MM. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
authors: Laboratory of Cancer Genetics and Translational Oncology, Oncology Department, S. Croce and Carle Teaching Hospital, Cuneo, 12100, Italy.
authors: Chiara
authors: C
authors: Varamo
authors: Medical Oncology, Oncology Department, S. Croce and Carle Teaching Hospital, Cuneo, 12100, Italy.
authors: Marcella
authors: M
authors: Occelli
authors: Laboratory of Cancer Genetics and Translational Oncology, Oncology Department, S. Croce and Carle Teaching Hospital, Cuneo, 12100, Italy.
authors: Daniela
authors: D
authors: Vivenza
authors: Medical Oncology, Oncology Department, S. Croce and Carle Teaching Hospital, Cuneo, 12100, Italy.
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Merlano
authors: Laboratory of Cancer Genetics and Translational Oncology, Oncology Department, S. Croce and Carle Teaching Hospital, Cuneo, 12100, Italy.
authors: Cristiana
authors: C
authors: Lo Nigro
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D035683:MicroRNAs