Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 27, 2026

A Proximal Culture Method to Study Paracrine Signaling Between Cells
08:17

A Proximal Culture Method to Study Paracrine Signaling Between Cells

Published on: August 28, 2018

9.4K

Regulation of Metastasis by microRNAs in Ovarian Cancer

Yongchao Wang1, Sangmi Kim2, Il-Man Kim3

  • 1Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Regents University , Augusta, GA , USA.

Frontiers in Oncology
|June 25, 2014
PubMed

Insights

microRNAs (miRs) play a key role in ovarian cancer (OC) metastasis and cancer stem cell (CSC) development. Circulating miRs show promise as biomarkers for early OC detection, prognosis, and targeted therapies.

Area of Science:

  • Gynecologic Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biomarker Discovery

Background:

  • Ovarian cancer (OC) remains a leading cause of cancer death in the US due to limited early detection.
  • Despite advances in targeted therapies, patient survival has not significantly improved.
  • MicroRNAs (miRs) are implicated in OC initiation, progression, and metastasis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advances in the role of miRs in OC metastasis.
  • To discuss the involvement of miRs in cancer stem cell (CSC) transformation and chemo-resistance.
  • To assess the potential of circulating miRs as biomarkers for OC.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent studies on miRs and OC metastasis.
  • Analysis of the role of miRs in CSC phenotypes and chemo-resistance.
  • Evaluation of circulating miRs for diagnostic and prognostic utility.

Main Results:

  • miRs are central regulators of OC initiation, progression, and metastasis.
  • Aberrant miR expression is linked to CSC phenotypes and chemo-resistance.
  • Circulating miRs are prevalent and hold potential as OC biomarkers.

Conclusions:

  • miRs are critically involved in both CSC transformation and OC metastasis.
  • miRs represent promising targets for novel OC therapeutics.
  • Circulating miRs offer potential for early OC diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment monitoring.
Keywords:
angiogenesiscancer stem cellsepithelial–mesenchymal transitionextracellular matrixmiRsovarian cancer

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Unveiling the Role of TMOD3 in Platinum Resistance and Immune Infiltration in Ovarian Cancer09:40

Author Spotlight: Unveiling the Role of TMOD3 in Platinum Resistance and Immune Infiltration in Ovarian Cancer

Published on: August 2, 2024

3.2K
Author Spotlight: Advanced Ex Vivo Model for Investigating Cancer-Adipose Microenvironment Interaction05:42

Author Spotlight: Advanced Ex Vivo Model for Investigating Cancer-Adipose Microenvironment Interaction

Published on: January 26, 2024

2.9K

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...
3.0K
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...
20.9K
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

9.8K
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...
3.6K
Metastasis02:30

Metastasis

Metastasis is the spread of cancer cells from the original site to distant locations in the body. Cancer cells can spread via blood vessels (hematogenous) as well as lymph vessels in the body.
Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition
The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition or EMT is a developmental process commonly observed in wound healing, embryogenesis, and cancer metastasis. EMT is induced by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) or receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) ligands, which further...
5.4K