Diagnostic and therapeutic potential of microRNA in paediatric oncology
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2012 |
| Type | Conference abstract |
| Citation | |
| Description | MicroRNAs are small, non-coding RNA molecules encoded in the genomes of plants and animals that regulate the expression of genes by binding to the 3'-untranslated regions (3'-UTR) of specific mRNAs, causing translational inhibition or mRNA degradation. They are supposed to regulate expression of up to 60 % of human genes. Due to their pivotal role in epigenetic regulations, the microRNA play an important role in pathogenesis of multiple diseases, including cancer. The recent studies show that expressional profiles of microRNA are significantly different between pediatric tumors and healthy tissue a may serve as diagnostic markers. Apart from the diagnostic itself, microRNA might play also an important role in estimation of histological characteristics of tumor tissue as well as in estimation of radio- or chemoresistance during therapy, e.g. in acute lymphoblastic leukemia, lymphomas, neuroblastoma, tumors of CNS and sarcomas. MiRNA-based anticancer therapies have recently been explored, either alone or in combination with current targeted therapies. The advantage of using microRNA approaches is based on its ability to concurrently target multiple effectors of pathways involved in cell differentiation, proliferation and survival. Here we summarize the current view of diagnostic as well as prognostic potential of microRNAs along with some therapy prospects in paediatric oncology. |