Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 11, 2026

MicroRNA Amplification and Recognition through Locked-nucleic-acid In situ Hybridization as a Novel Detection and Quantification Method
09:06

MicroRNA Amplification and Recognition through Locked-nucleic-acid In situ Hybridization as a Novel Detection and Quantification Method

Published on: October 7, 2025

MicroRNAs in cell proliferation, cell death, and tumorigenesis

H-W Hwang1, J T Mendell

  • 1Program in Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, The Institute of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 733 N Broadway, BRB 460C, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.

British Journal of Cancer
|February 24, 2006
PubMed

Insights

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate essential cellular functions. Aberrant miRNA expression drives human cancers, acting as either oncogenes or tumor suppressors in tumorigenesis.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules.
  • They regulate gene expression by targeting messenger RNAs (mRNAs).
  • miRNAs are crucial for fundamental cellular processes like proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of microRNAs in cancer.
  • To discuss how miRNAs function as oncogenes and tumor suppressors in tumorigenesis.
  • To highlight the significance of abnormal miRNA expression in human malignancies.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of scientific publications.
  • Analysis of studies on miRNA function in eukaryotes.
  • Synthesis of data on miRNA involvement in cancer development.

Main Results:

  • miRNAs are essential regulators of normal cellular functions.
  • Dysregulated miRNA expression is frequently observed in human cancers.
  • miRNAs can act as either oncogenes or tumor suppressors, influencing cancer progression.

Conclusions:

  • MicroRNAs play a dual role in cancer, acting as either oncogenes or tumor suppressors.
  • Understanding miRNA dysregulation is critical for cancer research and therapeutic strategies.
  • miRNAs represent promising targets for cancer diagnosis and treatment.

More Related Videos

Analysis of Combinatorial miRNA Treatments to Regulate Cell Cycle and Angiogenesis11:44

Analysis of Combinatorial miRNA Treatments to Regulate Cell Cycle and Angiogenesis

Published on: March 30, 2019

Genome-wide Screen for miRNA Targets Using the MISSION Target ID Library08:40

Genome-wide Screen for miRNA Targets Using the MISSION Target ID Library

Published on: April 6, 2012

Related Concept Videos

MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns (non-coding regions of a gene) or intergenic regions (stretches of DNA present between genes). Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself, forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA...
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns—non-coding regions of a gene—or intergenic regions—stretches of DNA present between genes. Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA ends...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
Abnormal Proliferation02:23

Abnormal Proliferation

Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the daughter...
PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway01:22

PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway

The mammalian target of rapamycin  (mTOR) is a serine/threonine kinase that regulates growth, proliferation, and cell survival in response to hormones, growth factors, or nutrient availability. This kinase exists in two structurally and functionally distinct forms: mTOR complex 1  (mTORC1) and mTOR complex 2  (mTORC2). The first form (mTORC1) is composed of a rapamycin-sensitive Raptor and proline-rich Akt substrate, PRAS40. In contrast,  mTORC2 consists of a rapamycin-insensitive companion...
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle02:38

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle

Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...