TY - JOUR
T1 - MicroRNAs, ultraconserved genes and colorectal cancers
AU - Rossi, Simona
AU - Kopetz, Scott
AU - Davuluri, Ramana
AU - Hamilton, Stanley R.
AU - Calin, George A.
N1 - Funding Information:
G.A.C. is supported as a fellow at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Research Trust and the University of Texas System Regents Research Scholar program and by the Ladjevardian Regents Research Scholar Fund. This study was funded by an Institutional Research Grant and by a Cancer Center Support Grant (New Faculty Award) to G.A.C. We apologize to many colleagues whose work was not cited owing to space limitations. We would like to thank Kathryn B. Carnes for her help with the editing of this manuscript.
PY - 2010/8
Y1 - 2010/8
N2 - In this review we present some recent advances in understanding the roles of non-coding RNAs, including microRNAs and ultraconserved genes, in colorectal cancer and the way these advances can be translated for better cure of patients. MicroRNAs are a class of small RNAs that do not code for proteins and yet function as gene regulators. The deregulation of microRNA expression is involved in the initiation, progression, and dissemination of any type of human tumor. The underlying mechanisms of microRNA deregulation in human cancers are just starting to be understood. Germline and somatic mutations in microRNAs or polymorphisms in the messenger protein-coding RNAs targeted by microRNAs may also contribute to the tumor phenotype. Profiling microRNAs by various methods has identified signatures associated with the diagnosis, staging, progression, and prognosis of human colorectal cancers. Consequently, miRNAs have potential as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets in colorectal cancers. Ultraconserved genes represent a recently identified class of transcripts, mainly non-coding, that are highly conserved during evolution and can regulate miRNAs by direct interaction. Fingerprints of ultraconserved genes expression can classify cancers, including colorectal cancers, and ultraconserved genes may be involved in metastasis. Thus, having a clearer understanding of the mechanisms involved in the deregulation of non-coding RNAs in colorectal cancers is expected to contribute greatly to the development of new microRNA-based strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of patients.
AB - In this review we present some recent advances in understanding the roles of non-coding RNAs, including microRNAs and ultraconserved genes, in colorectal cancer and the way these advances can be translated for better cure of patients. MicroRNAs are a class of small RNAs that do not code for proteins and yet function as gene regulators. The deregulation of microRNA expression is involved in the initiation, progression, and dissemination of any type of human tumor. The underlying mechanisms of microRNA deregulation in human cancers are just starting to be understood. Germline and somatic mutations in microRNAs or polymorphisms in the messenger protein-coding RNAs targeted by microRNAs may also contribute to the tumor phenotype. Profiling microRNAs by various methods has identified signatures associated with the diagnosis, staging, progression, and prognosis of human colorectal cancers. Consequently, miRNAs have potential as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets in colorectal cancers. Ultraconserved genes represent a recently identified class of transcripts, mainly non-coding, that are highly conserved during evolution and can regulate miRNAs by direct interaction. Fingerprints of ultraconserved genes expression can classify cancers, including colorectal cancers, and ultraconserved genes may be involved in metastasis. Thus, having a clearer understanding of the mechanisms involved in the deregulation of non-coding RNAs in colorectal cancers is expected to contribute greatly to the development of new microRNA-based strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of patients.
KW - Colorectal cancer
KW - Metastasis
KW - MicroRNA
KW - Profiling
KW - Ultraconserved gene
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U2 - 10.1016/j.biocel.2009.05.018
DO - 10.1016/j.biocel.2009.05.018
M3 - Review article
C2 - 19497386
AN - SCOPUS:77954386625
SN - 1357-2725
VL - 42
SP - 1291
EP - 1297
JO - International Journal of Biochemistry and Cell Biology
JF - International Journal of Biochemistry and Cell Biology
IS - 8
ER -