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Journal of Hematology & Oncology
Published in: Journal of Hematology & Oncology 1/2015

Open Access 01-12-2015 | Review

Competing endogenous RNA networks: tying the essential knots for cancer biology and therapeutics

Authors: Avencia Sanchez-Mejias, Yvonne Tay

Published in: Journal of Hematology & Oncology | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

A recently discovered dimension of post-transcriptional gene regulation involves co-regulatory crosstalk between RNA transcripts, which compete for common pools of microRNA (miRNA) molecules. These competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs), or natural miRNA sponges, have an active role in regulating miRNA availability within the cell and form intertwined regulatory networks. Recent reports have implicated diverse RNA species including protein-coding messenger RNAs and non-coding RNAs as ceRNAs in human development and diseases including human cancer. In this review, we discuss the most recent discoveries that implicate natural miRNA decoys in human cancer biology, as well as exciting advances in the study of ceRNA networks and dynamics. The structure and topology of intricate genome-scale ceRNA networks can be predicted computationally, and their dynamic response to fluctuations in ceRNA and miRNA levels can be studied via mathematical modeling. Additionally, the development of new methods to quantitatively determine absolute expression levels of miRNA and ceRNA molecules have expanded the capacity to accurately study the efficiency of ceRNA crosstalk in diverse biological models. These major milestones are of critical importance to identify key components of ceRNA regulatory networks that could aid the development of new approaches to cancer diagnostics and oligonucleotide-based therapeutics.
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Metadata
Title
Competing endogenous RNA networks: tying the essential knots for cancer biology and therapeutics
Authors
Avencia Sanchez-Mejias
Yvonne Tay
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Journal of Hematology & Oncology / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1756-8722
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13045-015-0129-1

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