Hung Chao-Hung, Chiu Yi-Chun, Chen Chien-Hung, Hu Tsung-Hui
Division of Hepatogastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, 123 Ta Pei Road, Niao Sung Kaohsiung 833, Taiwan.
Biomed Res Int. 2014;2014:486407. doi: 10.1155/2014/486407. Epub 2014 Apr 2.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of death from cancer, with dismal outcomes and an increasing incidence worldwide. Hepatocarcinogenesis is a multistep process that progresses from chronic hepatitis through cirrhosis and/or dysplastic nodule to HCC. However, the detailed molecular pathogenesis remains unclear. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), small noncoding RNAs that regulate the translation of many genes, have emerged as key factors involved in several biological processes, including development, differentiation, and cell proliferation. Recent studies have uncovered the contribution of miRNAs to the cancer pathogenesis, as they can behave as oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes. In addition, other studies have demonstrated their potential values in the clinical management of HCC patients as some miRNAs may be used as prognostic or diagnostic markers. In this review, we summarize current knowledge about the roles of miRNAs in carcinogenesis and progression of HCC. We also discuss the potential application of miRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers and their potential roles in the intervention of HCC.
肝细胞癌（HCC）是癌症相关死亡的第三大主要原因，其预后不佳且在全球范围内发病率呈上升趋势。肝癌发生是一个多步骤过程，从慢性肝炎经肝硬化和/或发育异常结节发展至HCC。然而，详细的分子发病机制仍不清楚。微小RNA（miRNA）是一类调控许多基因翻译的小非编码RNA，已成为参与包括发育、分化和细胞增殖在内的多个生物学过程的关键因素。最近的研究揭示了miRNA对癌症发病机制的作用，因为它们可以作为癌基因或肿瘤抑制基因发挥作用。此外，其他研究表明了它们在HCC患者临床管理中的潜在价值，因为一些miRNA可用作预后或诊断标志物。在这篇综述中，我们总结了关于miRNA在HCC发生和进展中作用的当前知识。我们还讨论了miRNA作为诊断生物标志物的潜在应用及其在HCC干预中的潜在作用。
