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Pivotal role of microRNA-138 in human cancers

Margaret Yeh1, Christina S Oh2, Ji Young Yoo1

  • 1Department of Neurosurgery, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, McGovern Medical School Houston, TX 77030, USA.

American Journal of Cancer Research
|July 10, 2019
PubMed

Insights

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key in cancer. This review focuses on miR-138, a tumor suppressor often down-regulated in cancers, exploring its therapeutic potential.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Aberrant microRNA (miRNA) expression is linked to cancer development and progression.
  • miRNAs are recognized as potential druggable targets for cancer therapy due to their ability to regulate multiple genes.
  • Global miRNA profiling has identified miR-138 as a frequently down-regulated tumor suppressor in various human cancers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the expression and functional roles of miR-138 across diverse human cancers.
  • To elucidate the target genes and pathways regulated by miR-138 in oncogenesis.
  • To explore miR-138 as a potential therapeutic target for cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on miR-138 expression in human cancers.
  • Analysis of miRNA profiling data from patient cohorts.
  • Examination of experimental evidence on miR-138's interaction with target mRNAs and pathways.

Main Results:

  • miR-138 functions as a tumor suppressor by inhibiting oncogenic proteins in most cancers.
  • Down-regulation of miR-138 is a common feature in many cancer types.
  • In rare cases, such as glioblastoma stem cells, miR-138 may exhibit oncogenic functions when down-regulated.

Conclusions:

  • miR-138 plays a complex role in human cancers, primarily as a tumor suppressor.
  • Understanding miR-138's targets and pathways is crucial for developing novel cancer therapies.
  • Further research into miR-138 modulation could lead to improved therapeutic strategies for various cancers.
Keywords:
MicroRNAcancerglioblastomamiR-138oncogenetumor suppressor

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