Open AccessMicroRNA expression and its clinical implications in Ewing's sarcoma
Author(s) -
Li Zheng,
Yu Xin,
Shen Jianxiong,
Wu William Ka Kei,
Chan Matthew T.V.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
cell proliferation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.647
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1365-2184
pISSN - 0960-7722
DOI - 10.1111/cpr.12160
Subject(s) - microrna , biology , epigenetics , metastasis , pathogenesis , ewing's sarcoma , cancer research , disease , bioinformatics , cancer , non coding rna , gene , computational biology , genetics , medicine , immunology , pathology , chemotherapy
Ewing's sarcoma ( EWS ) is the second most common primary bone cancer, and is a predominant childhood malignant disease. Due to limited understanding of its pathogenesis and frequent occurrence of resistance to conventional types of treatment, its management remains difficult, and mortality is frequent. Development of EWS is a multistep process involving genetic and epigenetic alterations of protein‐coding proto‐oncogenes and tumour‐suppressor genes. Micro RNA s (mi RNA s) have recently been discovered as a new category of non‐protein coding; small RNA molecules that regulate gene expression at the post‐transcriptional level. Substantial numbers of deregulated mi RNA s have been documented in EWS and their biological significance has been confirmed in multiple functional experiments. Several studies have confirmed involvement of mi RNA s in various steps of EWS pathogenesis, from occurrence to metastasis. Functionally, mi RNA dysregulation may promote cell‐cycle progression, confer resistance to apoptosis, and enhance invasiveness and metastasis. These mi RNA s have opened a novel field in cancer research with potential clinical utilization for screening, diagnosis, prognostics and prediction of response to treatment. Elucidating biological aspects of mi RNA dysregulation may help better understand pathogenesis of EWS and promote development of mi RNA directed‐therapeutics against it.