Institute for Cancer Studies and Academic Urology Unit, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
Eur Urol. 2011 May;59(5):671-81. doi: 10.1016/j.eururo.2011.01.044. Epub 2011 Feb 1.
MicroRNAs (miRNA) are noncoding RNAs that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression. Their altered expression and function have been observed in most urologic cancers. MiRNAs represent potential disease biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets.
To review and evaluate the evidence implicating miRNAs in the pathogenesis of prostate cancer (PCa), bladder cancer (BCa), and renal cancer.
A systematic review was performed using PubMed and Embase to search for reports using strings for microRNA, non-coding RNA, cancer, prostate, bladder, and renal cancer. Identified manuscripts were retrieved and references searched. Selected studies were required to concentrate on the role of miRNA in these urologic cancers.
We reviewed articles that focus on this topic. More than 40 miRNAs have been implicated in urologic cancer and many target common carcinogenic pathways. In particular, apoptosis avoidance, cell proliferation, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, angiogenic signalling, and the generation of androgen independence are targeted or facilitated by more than one miRNA. Little work has been done to evaluate the translational applications for this knowledge to date. Novel therapeutic strategies have been developed and are under investigation to selectively modulate miRNAs; such work would potentially enable personalised tumour therapy.
MiRNAs appear to be important modulators of urologic cancer. Their expression is frequently altered in these tumours, and many are functionally implicated in their pathogenesis. They require evaluation to determine the translational role and therapeutic potential for this knowledge.
MicroRNAs（miRNA）是一种非编码 RNA，可在后转录水平上调节基因表达。在大多数泌尿系统癌症中，都观察到其表达和功能发生改变。miRNA 代表潜在的疾病生物标志物和新型治疗靶标。
综述和评估 miRNA 在前列腺癌（PCa）、膀胱癌（BCa）和肾癌发病机制中的作用的证据。
使用 PubMed 和 Embase 进行系统评价，搜索使用 microRNA、非编码 RNA、癌症、前列腺、膀胱和肾癌字符串的报告。检索到已识别的手稿并搜索参考文献。选定的研究需要集中研究 miRNA 在这些泌尿系统癌症中的作用。
我们综述了专注于这一主题的文章。超过 40 种 miRNA 与泌尿系统癌症有关，许多 miRNA 靶向共同的致癌途径。特别是，凋亡逃避、细胞增殖、上皮-间充质转化、血管生成信号和雄激素非依赖性的产生，都被不止一种 miRNA 靶向或促进。迄今为止，很少有研究评估将这些知识转化为应用的潜力。已经开发出新型治疗策略来选择性地调节 miRNA；这种工作可能使肿瘤的个性化治疗成为可能。
miRNA 似乎是泌尿系统癌症的重要调节因子。它们在这些肿瘤中的表达经常发生改变，并且许多在其发病机制中具有功能意义。需要对其进行评估，以确定该知识的转化作用和治疗潜力。
