Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 26, 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

551

MicroRNAome genome: a treasure for cancer diagnosis and therapy

Ioana Berindan-Neagoe1, Paloma del C Monroig, Barbara Pasculli

  • 1Department of Functional Genomics, The Oncology Institute, Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Department of Immunology, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

CA: a Cancer Journal for Clinicians
|August 9, 2014
PubMed

Insights

MicroRNAs (miRNAs), once dismissed as "genomic trash," are now recognized as key regulators in cancer development and progression. This review explores their role in all cancer hallmarks, detection methods, and therapeutic potential.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Oncology
  • Genomics
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • The discovery of microRNAs (miRNAs) has revolutionized oncology, revealing their critical role in cancer initiation, progression, and metastasis.
  • miRNAs are short, noncoding RNA molecules that regulate protein expression at multiple cellular levels, impacting growth, development, and differentiation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the multifaceted roles of miRNAs in all cancer hallmarks.
  • To discuss current methods for detecting miRNA expression and their dysregulation in cancer.
  • To explore the potential of miRNAs as biomarkers, predictors of treatment response, and therapeutic targets.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on miRNA function in cancer.
  • Analysis of various miRNA expression detection techniques.
  • Examination of miRNA-targeting therapeutic strategies and challenges.

Main Results:

  • miRNAs are integral to cancer initiation, progression, and dissemination, acting as ubiquitous players in all cancer hallmarks.
  • Hundreds of dysregulated miRNAs have been identified in cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment.
  • miRNAs show promise as cancer biomarkers and predictors of therapeutic outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • miRNAs are crucial in cancer biology, offering significant potential for diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
  • Current research focuses on developing miRNA-targeting drugs, with ongoing efforts to overcome associated challenges.
  • Long noncoding RNAs represent a new frontier in molecular oncology translational research.
Keywords:
cancer.diagnosismicroRNAtherapy

More Related Videos

CRISPR Gene Editing Tool for MicroRNA Cluster Network Analysis10:40

CRISPR Gene Editing Tool for MicroRNA Cluster Network Analysis

Published on: April 25, 2022

2.5K
An In Vitro Protocol for Evaluating MicroRNA Levels, Functions, and Associated Target Genes in Tumor Cells09:45

An In Vitro Protocol for Evaluating MicroRNA Levels, Functions, and Associated Target Genes in Tumor Cells

Published on: May 21, 2019

8.1K

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
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine02:50

Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine

Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
4.9K
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
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

1.5K