Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 20, 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

490

MicroRNAs and Their Impact on Radiotherapy for Cancer

Ann-Kathrin Mueller1, Kirsten Lindner1, Richard Hummel1

  • 1a   University Hospital of Muenster, 48149 Muenster, Germany;

Radiation Research
|May 26, 2016
PubMed

Insights

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of cellular responses to radiation therapy. Understanding their role in radioresistance could lead to new cancer treatments and diagnostic markers.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Radiotherapy Research

Background:

  • Tumor resistance to radiation is a primary cause of treatment failure and recurrence after radiotherapy.
  • The precise mechanisms underlying tumor radioresistance are not fully elucidated.
  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are increasingly recognized for their potential in cancer diagnostics and therapeutics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current literature on the role of miRNAs in modulating cancer response to radiotherapy.
  • To highlight the potential of miRNAs as diagnostic and prognostic markers for radiotherapy outcomes.
  • To explore the therapeutic implications of targeting miRNAs to overcome radioresistance.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive literature review of studies investigating microRNAs and radiotherapy response.
  • Analysis of emerging evidence on miRNA involvement in cellular pathways mediating radiation response.
  • Synthesis of data on miRNAs as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

Main Results:

  • MicroRNAs significantly influence key cellular pathways that determine sensitivity or resistance to radiation.
  • Emerging data support the role of specific miRNAs in modulating radiosensitivity.
  • MicroRNAs show promise as novel diagnostic and prognostic indicators in cancer radiotherapy.

Conclusions:

  • MicroRNAs play a critical role in regulating cancer cell response to radiotherapy.
  • Targeting miRNAs offers a potential strategy to enhance radiosensitivity and improve treatment outcomes.
  • MicroRNAs represent promising biomarkers for predicting radiotherapy response and patient prognosis.

More Related Videos

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

9.0K
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

18.1K

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...
4.2K
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...
24.6K
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

12.0K
Experimental RNAi02:15

Experimental RNAi

RNA interference (RNAi) is a cellular mechanism that inhibits gene expression by suppressing its transcription or activating the RNA degradation process. The mechanism was discovered by Andrew Fire and Craig Mello in 1998 in plants. Today, it is observed in almost all eukaryotes, including protozoa, flies, nematodes, insects, parasites, and mammals. This precise cellular mechanism of gene silencing has been developed into a technique that provides an efficient way to identify and determine the...
8.2K
siRNA - Small Interfering RNAs02:30

siRNA - Small Interfering RNAs

Small interfering RNAs, or siRNAs, are short regulatory RNA molecules that can silence genes post-transcriptionally, as well as the transcriptional level in some cases. siRNAs are important for protecting cells against viral infections and silencing transposable genetic elements.
In the cytoplasm, siRNA is processed from a double-stranded RNA, which comes from either endogenous DNA transcription or exogenous sources like a virus. This double-stranded RNA is then cleaved by the...
19.0K
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
9.1K