MicroRNAs in Renal Cell Carcinoma.

New therapies based on the targeting of signal pathways (such as VHL/HIF-1) common to most renal cell carcinomas (RCC), have greatly improved the outlook for sufferers of this disease. Given the growing reputation of many microRNAs (miRNAs) as both tumor suppressors and oncogenes, the measurement and manipulation of these small nucleotides in RCC patients may provide yet another valuable advance in renal cancer diagnosis and treatment. The present review summarizes the current literature on the role of microRNAs in RCC development and progression emphasizing the interaction of specific miRNAs with both oncogenic and tumor suppressor pathways of particular importance in renal cancer.