Open AccessMicroRNA involvement in hepatocellular carcinoma
Author(s) -
Gramantieri Laura,
Fornari Francesca,
Callegari Elisa,
Sabbioni Silvia,
Lanza Giovanni,
Croce Carlo M.,
Bolondi Luigi,
Negrini Massimo
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of cellular and molecular medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.44
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1582-4934
pISSN - 1582-1838
DOI - 10.1111/j.1582-4934.2008.00533.x
Subject(s) - microrna , hepatocellular carcinoma , cancer research , biology , cancer , angiogenesis , liver cancer , bioinformatics , cell cycle , pathogenesis , pathological , gene , medicine , immunology , pathology , genetics
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third cause of cancer‐related death worldwide. Curative options for HCC are limited and exclusively available for patients carrying an early stage HCC. In advanced stages, traditional chemotherapy proved to be only marginally effective or even toxic. Thus, the identification of new treatment options is needed. New targets for non‐conventional treatment will necessarily take advantage of progresses on the molecular pathogenesis of HCC. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of tiny RNAs with a fundamental role in the regulation of gene expression. Aberrant expression of several miRNAs was found to be involved in human hepatocarcinogenesis. miRNA expression signatures were correlated with bio‐pathological and clinical features of HCC. In some cases, aberrantly expressed miRNAs could be linked to cancer‐associated pathways, indicating a direct role in liver tumourigenesis. For example, up‐regulation of mir‐221 and mir‐21 could promote cell cycle progression, reduce cell death and favour angiogenesis and invasion. These findings suggest that miRNAs could become novel molecular targets for HCC treatment. The demonstration of in vivo efficacy and safety of anti‐miRNA compounds has opened the way to their use in clinical trials.