MicroRNAs

Changes in how microRNAs are expressed and how they behave have become an important piece of the puzzle in how cancer begins and advances. These small RNA molecules influence tumour growth by controlling cell division and programmed cell death, and they can act either as oncogenes or as tumour suppressors. Because their expression patterns can be read, they open new routes for detecting, predicting the course of, and treating cancer. Their dual role also makes them candidates for therapies that either suppress or enhance their activity.

This book sets out a broad overview of current knowledge about the miRNA abnormalities linked to cancer development and progression. It explores the mechanisms through which these molecules shape disease, and it shows how they might serve as cancer biomarkers and as platforms for treatment.