title: microRNA Therapeutics in Cancer - An Emerging Concept.
abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are an evolutionarily conserved class of small, regulatory non-coding RNAs that negatively regulate protein coding gene and other non-coding transcripts expression. miRNAs have been established as master regulators of cellular processes, and they play a vital role in tumor initiation, progression and metastasis. Further, widespread deregulation of microRNAs have been reported in several cancers, with several microRNAs playing oncogenic and tumor suppressive roles. Based on these, miRNAs have emerged as promising therapeutic tools for cancer management. In this review, we have focused on the roles of miRNAs in tumorigenesis, the miRNA-based therapeutic strategies currently being evaluated for use in cancer, and the advantages and current challenges to their use in the clinic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Maitri Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferrajoli
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecologic Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA and Center for RNA Interference and Non-Coding RNAs, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Anil K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Sood
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA and Center for RNA Interference and Non-Coding RNAs, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lopez-Berestein
authors.affiliation: Departments of Experimental Therapeutics and Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA and Center for RNA Interference and Non-Coding RNAs, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA. Electronic address: gcalin@mdanderson.org.
authors.forename: George A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Calin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D020868:Gene Silencing; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D056747:Immunomodulation / Q000235:genetics; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D034622:RNA Interference; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs
keywords: Cancer; Clinical trials; Non-coding RNA; Therapeutics; microRNA