MetastamiRs: Non-Coding MicroRNAs Driving Cancer Invasion and Metastasis

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Cesar Lopez-Camarillo⁴  Laurence A. Marchat³  Elena Arechaga-Ocampo⁵  Carlos Perez-Plasencia²  Oscar del Moral-Hernandez¹  Elizabeth J. Castaneda-Ortiz⁴ 

[1] Academic Unit of Biological Chemistry Sciences, Molecular Biomedicine Laboratory, Autonomous University of Guerrero, Lazaro Cárdenas S/N Col, Haciendita, Chilpancingo Guerrero, 39090, Mexico; E-Mail:;Massive Sequencing Unit, National Institute of Cancerology, Avenue San Fernando 22, 14080, Mexico; E-Mail:;Biotechnology Program, Institutional Program of Molecular Biomedicine, National School of Medicine and Homeopathy of the National Polytechnic Institute, Guillermo Massieu Helguera 239, 07320, Mexico; E-Mail:;Genomics Sciences Program, Oncogenomics and Cancer Proteomics Laboratory, Autonomous University of Mexico City, Avenue San Lorenzo 290, 03100, Mexico; E-Mail:;Carcinogenesis Laboratory, National Institute of Cancerology, Avenue San Fernando 22, 14080, Mexico; E-Mail:

关键词: microRNA;    cancer;    epithelial-mesenchymal transition;    invasion;    metastasis;    metastamiRs;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms13021347

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs of ~22 nucleotides that function as negative regulators of gene expression by either inhibiting translation or inducing deadenylation-dependent degradation of target transcripts. Notably, deregulation of miRNAs expression is associated with the initiation and progression of human cancers where they act as oncogenes or tumor suppressors contributing to tumorigenesis. Abnormal miRNA expression may provide potential diagnostic and prognostic tumor biomarkers and new therapeutic targets in cancer. Recently, several miRNAs have been shown to initiate invasion and metastasis by targeting multiple proteins that are major players in these cellular events, thus they have been denominated as metastamiRs. Here, we present a review of the current knowledge of miRNAs in cancer with a special focus on metastamiRs. In addition we discuss their potential use as novel specific markers for cancer progression.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2012 by the authors; licensee Molecular Diversity Preservation International, Basel, Switzerland.