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Open Access 01-12-2008 | Commentary

MicroRNAs: regulators of oncogenesis and stemness

Authors: Thales Papagiannakopoulos, Kenneth S Kosik

Published in: BMC Medicine | Issue 1/2008

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are essential post-transcriptional regulators that determine cell identity and fate. Aberrant expression of miRNAs can lead to diseases, including cancer. Expression of many miRNAs in the de-differentiated brain tumor cancer stem cells resembles that of neural stem cells. In this issue of BMC Medicine, Silber et al provide evidence of the expression of such miRNAs and their potential to mediate differentiation in both stem cell populations. In this commentary, we discuss the known functions of miRNAs in cancer and stem cells, their therapeutic potential and how the findings of Silber et al provide insight into the role of miR-124/miR-137 dysregulation in glioblastomas.

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The pre-publication history for this paper can be accessed here:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7015/6/15/prepub

Title: MicroRNAs: regulators of oncogenesis and stemness
Authors: Thales Papagiannakopoulos
Kenneth S Kosik
Publication date: 01-12-2008
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Medicine / Issue 1/2008
Electronic ISSN: 1741-7015
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1741-7015-6-15

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MicroRNAs: regulators of oncogenesis and stemness

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