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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: ERC-09-0222v1 17/1/F51    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Google Scholar Articles by Santarpia, L. Articles by Calin, G. A PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Santarpia, L. Articles by Calin, G. A

¹ Translational Research Unit, Department of Oncology, Hospital of Prato and Istituto Toscana Tumori, Piazza dell' Ospedale, 59100 Prato, Italy Departments of
² Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders
³ Experimental Therapeutics, Unit 36, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77030, USA

(Correspondence should be addressed to G A Calin; Email: gcalin{at}mdanderson.org; L Santarpia at Translational Research Unit, Department of Oncology, Hospital of Prato Istituto Toscana Tumori; Email: lsantarp{at}mdanderson.org)

This paper is one of 6 papers that form part of a special Focus Section on microRNAs. The Guest Editors for this section were Professor Alfredo Fusco, Naples, Italy, and Professor Carlo M Croce, Columbus, OH, USA.

Several lines of evidence indicate that tumorigenesis is a complex multistep process, and that most, if not all, cancers acquire the same set of functional capabilities during development and progression, albeit through various mechanistic strategies. Increasing data show an important role of microRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) in regulating various aspects of cancer biology. This review describes the role of microRNAs during the multiple steps that drive the progressive transformation of normal cells into highly malignant derivatives, outlining the role of microRNAs in regulating the common hallmarks of tumorigenesis: self-sufficiency in growth signals, insensitivity to antigrowth signals, abnormal apoptosis, limitless replicative potential, induction and sustained angiogenesis, and tissue invasion and metastasis. Recent evidence suggests an important role of microRNAs in the regulation of the expression of most genes regulating and coordinating a wide variety of processes in endocrine glands. We will highlight microRNAs of potential relevance to endocrine tumors and hormone-dependent cancers. Through this overview of how microRNAs regulate multiple targets and entire pathways, we will provide insight into the potential to develop new molecular microRNA-targeted therapies for endocrine tumors.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. Fusco MicroRNAs: a great challenge for the diagnosis and therapy of endocrine cancers Endocr. Relat. Cancer, January 29, 2010; 17(1): E3 - E4. [Full Text] [PDF]