Oncology and Hematology

MicroRNAs and cancer

MicroRNAs are a type of small non-coding RNA molecule that performs a vital role in post-transcriptional gene regulation. Since miRNAs were first identified in 1993, a number of studies have demonstrated that they act as tumor suppressors or oncogenes in human cancer, including colorectal, lung, brain, breast and liver cancer, and leukemia. Studies have previously revealed that miRNA profiling is important for the diagnosis and prognosis of patients with cancer, while certain miRNAs possess the potential to be used as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers or therapeutic targets in cancer. Studies review and examines the roles of miRNAs in prognosis, cancer diagnosis and treatment, discusses the probable therapeutic modality of misusing miRNAs.