MicroRNAs and Cancer: Short RNAs Go a Long Way

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) may be important regulators of gene expression. By modulating oncogenic and tumor suppressor pathways they could, in principle, contribute to tumorigenesis. Consistent with this hypothesis, recurrent genetic and epigenetic alterations of individual miRNAs are found in some tumors. Functional studies are now elucidating the mechanism of action of putative oncogenic and tumor suppressor miRNAs.