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Tumor Biology
Published in: Tumor Biology 3/2013

01-06-2013 | Review

miR-221/222: promising biomarkers for breast cancer

Authors: Wei-Xian Chen, Qing Hu, Man-Tang Qiu, Shan-Liang Zhong, Jin-Jin Xu, Jin-Hai Tang, Jian-Hua Zhao

Published in: Tumor Biology | Issue 3/2013

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Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs of 19–25 nt that can regulate gene expression at a posttranscriptional level. Increasing evidence indicates that miRNAs participate in almost every step of cellular processes and are often aberrantly expressed in human cancer. miR-221 and miR-222 are two highly homologous miRNAs that always act as a gene cluster (miR-221/222) in cellular regulation and have extensively been studied in cancer network. Here, we review the role of miR-221/222 in breast cancer (BCa) development and progression: regulating proliferative signaling pathways, altering telomere and telomerase activity, avoiding cell death from tumor suppressors, autophagy and apoptosis, monitoring angiogenesis, supporting epithelial–mesenchymal transition, and even controlling cell-specific function within microenvironment. We consider that miR-221/222 act as promising biomarkers for BCa and they would offer a new way in molecular targeting cancer treatment.
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Metadata
Title
miR-221/222: promising biomarkers for breast cancer
Authors
Wei-Xian Chen
Qing Hu
Man-Tang Qiu
Shan-Liang Zhong
Jin-Jin Xu
Jin-Hai Tang
Jian-Hua Zhao
Publication date
01-06-2013
Publisher
Springer Netherlands
Published in
Tumor Biology / Issue 3/2013
Print ISSN: 1010-4283
Electronic ISSN: 1423-0380
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13277-013-0750-y

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