miR-203 regulates cell proliferation through its influence on Hakai expression.

Gene expression is potently regulated through the action of microRNAs (miRNAs). Here, we present evidence of a miRNA regulating Hakai protein. Hakai was discovered as an E3 ubiquitin-ligase that mediates the posttranslational downregulation of E-cadherin, a major component of adherens junctions in epithelial cells and a potent tumour suppressor.

Circulating miR-200c as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for gastric cancer.

Background: MicroRNAs are aberrantly expressed and correlate with tumourigenesis and the progression of solid tumours. The miR-200 family determines the epithelial phenotype of cancer cells and regulates invasiveness and migration. Thus, we hypothesised that the quantitative detection of the miR-200 family as epithelial-specific microRNAs in the blood could be a useful clinical biomarker for gastric cancer (GC).

Evaluation of the adenocarcinoma-associated gene AGR2 and the intestinal stem cell marker LGR5 as biomarkers in colorectal cancer.

We aim to estimate the diagnostic performances of anterior gradient homolog-2 (AGR2) and Leucine-rich repeat-containing-G-protein-coupled receptor 5 (LGR5) in peripheral blood (PB) as mRNA biomarkers in colorectal cancer (CRC) and to explore their prognostic significance. Real-time PCR was used to analyze AGR2 and LGR5 in 54 stages I-IV CRC patients and 19 controls. Both mRNAs were significantly increased in PB from CRC patients compared to controls.

Prognostic impact of disseminated tumor cells and microRNA-17-92 cluster deregulation in gastrointestinal cancer.

The presence of tumor cells in the bone marrow (BM) could be relevant to identifying high risk of disease progression and death in gastrointestinal cancer. However, the molecular profile associated with disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) homing to the BM has yet to be defined. MicroRNAs (miRNA) play key roles in cellular processes implicated in cancer.

Evaluation of plakophilin-3 mRNA as a biomarker for detection of circulating tumor cells in gastrointestinal cancer patients.

Background: This study aims to assess Plakophilin-3 (PKP3) as a surrogate biomarker of circulating tumor cells in patients with gastrointestinal cancer.

Methods: The primary aim is to estimate the diagnostic accuracy of PKP3 real-time reverse transcriptase-PCR in blood. Receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed.

Diagnostic accuracy of small breast epithelial mucin mRNA as a marker for bone marrow micrometastasis in breast cancer: a pilot study.

Background: Detection of isolated tumour cells (ITC) in the blood or minimal deposits in distant organs such as bone marrow (BM) could be important to identify breast cancer patients at high risk of relapse or disease progression. PCR amplification of tissue or tumour selective mRNA is the most powerful analytical tool for detection of this micrometastasis. We have evaluated for the first time, the diagnostic accuracy of small breast epithelial mucin (SBEM) as a potential marker for BM micrometastasis in breast cancer.

Bioinformatics approach to mRNA markers discovery for detection of circulating tumor cells in patients with gastrointestinal cancer.

Background: Detection of tumor cells in the blood, or minimal deposits in distant organs as bone marrow, could be important to identify cancer patients at high risk of relapse or disease progression. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of tissue or tumor selective mRNA is the most powerful tool for the detection of this circulating or occult metastatic cells. Our study aims to identify novel gastrointestinal cancer-specific markers for circulating tumor cell detection.

In silico and in vitro analysis of small breast epithelial mucin as a marker for bone marrow micrometastasis in breast cancer.

Molecular signatures associated with malignant phenotype would be useful for detection of micrometastatic carcinoma cells. The small breast epithelial mucin (SBEM) gene is predicted to code for a low molecular weight glycoprotein. To evaluate its potential role as a marker for bone marrow (BM) micrometastasis in breast cancer (BC) patients, we have studied in silico and in vitro expression profiles of SBEM gene.