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MicroRNA Amplification and Recognition through Locked-nucleic-acid In situ Hybridization as a Novel Detection and Quantification Method
Published on: October 7, 2025
MicroRNAs: Potential biomarkers in cancer
1Department of Urology and Renal Transplantation, Sanjay Gandhi and Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, U.P. 226014 India.
Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry : IJCB
|October 30, 2012
Summary
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate gene expression and are implicated in cancer. Polymorphisms in miRNA pathways offer potential for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic development.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- Oncology
Background:
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs regulating gene expression.
- Polymorphisms in miRNA pathways (miR-polymorphisms) are increasingly recognized for their role in disease biology.
- Deregulation of miRNA gene signatures is evident in various cancers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the role of miRNA polymorphisms in cancer.
- To highlight the potential of miRNAs as biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and prognosis.
- To discuss the impact of miRNAs on tumorigenesis and cancer therapeutics.
Main Methods:
- Review of advancements in miRNA research.
- Analysis of studies identifying miRNA polymorphisms associated with cancer.
- Utilizing miRNA microarrays for biomarker discovery.
Main Results:
- MiRNA polymorphisms are linked to various cancers, influencing tumor aggressiveness and patient survival.
- Numerous miRNAs function as oncogenes, tumor suppressors, or modulators of cancer stem cells and metastasis.
- Identified miRNA biomarkers and their target genes provide insights into cancer mechanisms.
Conclusions:
- MiRNAs play a critical role in tumorigenesis, revolutionizing cancer research.
- MiRNA-based therapeutics show promise due to the rapid discovery of miRNA targets and pathways.
- MiRNA polymorphisms represent valuable tools for cancer prognosis and diagnosis.
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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...
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...
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...
lncRNA - Long Non-coding RNAs
In humans, more than 80% of the genome gets transcribed. However, only around 2% of the genome codes for proteins. The remaining part produces non-coding RNAs which includes ribosomal RNAs, transfer RNAs, telomerase RNAs, and regulatory RNAs, among other types. A large number of regulatory non-coding RNAs have been classified into two groups depending upon their length – small non-coding RNAs, such as microRNA, which are less than 200 nucleotides in length, and long non-coding RNA (lncRNA)...

