Implications of microRNAs in Colorectal Cancer Development, Diagnosis, Prognosis and Therapeutics

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of non-coding small RNAs with critical regulatory functions as post-transcriptional regulators. Due to the fundamental importance and broad impact of miRNAs on multiple genes and pathways, dysregulated miRNAs have been associated with human diseases, including cancer....

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Haiyan eZhai, Jingfang eJu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2011-11-01
Series:Frontiers in Genetics
Subjects:
Online Access:http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fgene.2011.00078/full
Description
Summary:MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of non-coding small RNAs with critical regulatory functions as post-transcriptional regulators. Due to the fundamental importance and broad impact of miRNAs on multiple genes and pathways, dysregulated miRNAs have been associated with human diseases, including cancer. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is among the most deadly diseases, and miRNAs offer a new frontier for target discovery and novel biomarkers for both diagnosis and prognosis. In this review, we summarize the recent advancement of miRNA research in CRC, in particular, the roles of miRNAs in colorectal cancer stem cells, EMT, chemoresistance, therapeutics, diagnosis and prognosis.
ISSN:1664-8021