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A small piece in the cancer puzzle: microRNAs as tumor suppressors and oncogenes

Oncogene volume 25, pages 6188–6196 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

The known classes of genes that function as tumor suppressors and oncogenes have recently been expanded to include the microRNA (miRNA) family of regulatory molecules. miRNAs negatively regulate the stability and translation of target messenger RNAs (mRNA) and have been implicated in diverse processes such as cellular differentiation, cell-cycle control and apoptosis. Examination of tumor-specific miRNA expression profiles has revealed widespread dysregulation of these molecules in diverse cancers. Although studies addressing their role in cancer pathogenesis are at an early stage, it is apparent that loss- or gain-of-function of specific miRNAs contributes to cellular transformation and tumorigenesis. The available evidence clearly demonstrates that these molecules are intertwined with cellular pathways regulated by classical oncogenes and tumor suppressors such as MYC, RAS and p53. Incorporation of miRNA regulation into current models of molecular cancer pathogenesis will be essential to achieve a complete understanding of this group of diseases.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Emily Gesner from the University of Alberta for helpful discussions in the early stages of writing. JTM is a March of Dimes Basil O’Connor Scholar, a Rita Allen Foundation Scholar, and also receives support from the Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research.

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  1. The McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

    O A Kent & J T Mendell

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Kent, O., Mendell, J. A small piece in the cancer puzzle: microRNAs as tumor suppressors and oncogenes. Oncogene 25, 6188–6196 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.onc.1209913

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