MicroRNA alterations in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

MicroRNAs (mirs) are small noncoding RNA molecules (~22 nucleotides) that regulate posttranscriptional gene expression. Currently, there has not been a comprehensive study of their role in primary head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). To determine the role of mirs in HNSCC, we screened for altered microRNA expression in HNSCC primary tissue and cell lines.