TY - JOUR
T1 - The role of microRNAs in cancers of the upper gastrointestinal tract
AU - Song, Shumei
AU - Ajani, Jaffer A.
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported in part by the Dallas, Park, Smith, and Cantu family funds; the Kevin Fund; the Sultan Fund; the River Creek Foundation; and the Aaron and Martha Schecter Private Foundation. This work was also supported by the Multidisciplinary Research Program at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and by the National Institutes of Health through MD Anderson Cancer Center Support Grants CA016672 and CA138671 (J. Ajani).
PY - 2013/2
Y1 - 2013/2
N2 - Cancers of the oesophagus, gastro-oesophageal junction and stomach (upper gastrointestinal tract cancers; UGICs) pose a major health risk around the world. Collectively, the 5-year survival rate has remained <15%, and therapeutic improvements have been very slow and small. Novel molecules for early diagnosis, prognosis and therapy are, therefore, urgently needed. The role that microRNA (miRNA) molecules have in UGICs are worth pursuing to this end. miRNAs are small noncoding RNA molecules that regulate ∼60% of coding genes in humans and, therefore, are pivotal in mediating and regulating many physiologic processes. miRNAs are deregulated in many disease states, particularly in cancer, making them important targets. Here, we review the growing body of evidence regarding the alterations of miRNAs in UGICs. By suppressing translation and/or promoting degradation of mRNAs, miRNAs can contribute to carcinogenesis and progression of UGICs. In-depth studies of miRNAs in UGICs might yield novel insights and potential novel therapeutic strategies.
AB - Cancers of the oesophagus, gastro-oesophageal junction and stomach (upper gastrointestinal tract cancers; UGICs) pose a major health risk around the world. Collectively, the 5-year survival rate has remained <15%, and therapeutic improvements have been very slow and small. Novel molecules for early diagnosis, prognosis and therapy are, therefore, urgently needed. The role that microRNA (miRNA) molecules have in UGICs are worth pursuing to this end. miRNAs are small noncoding RNA molecules that regulate ∼60% of coding genes in humans and, therefore, are pivotal in mediating and regulating many physiologic processes. miRNAs are deregulated in many disease states, particularly in cancer, making them important targets. Here, we review the growing body of evidence regarding the alterations of miRNAs in UGICs. By suppressing translation and/or promoting degradation of mRNAs, miRNAs can contribute to carcinogenesis and progression of UGICs. In-depth studies of miRNAs in UGICs might yield novel insights and potential novel therapeutic strategies.
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U2 - 10.1038/nrgastro.2012.210
DO - 10.1038/nrgastro.2012.210
M3 - Review article
C2 - 23165235
AN - SCOPUS:84873443965
SN - 1759-5045
VL - 10
SP - 109
EP - 118
JO - Nature Reviews Gastroenterology and Hepatology
JF - Nature Reviews Gastroenterology and Hepatology
IS - 2
ER -