miR-1285-3p Controls Colorectal Cancer Proliferation and Escape from Apoptosis through DAPK2.

MicroRNAs are tiny but powerful regulators of gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Aberrant expression of oncogenic and tumor-suppressor microRNAs has been recognized as a common feature of human cancers. Colorectal cancer represents a major clinical challenge in the developed world and the design of innovative therapeutic approaches relies on the identification of novel biological targets.

Micro-Economics of Apoptosis in Cancer: ncRNAs Modulation of BCL-2 Family Members.

In the last few years, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have been a hot topic in cancer research. Many ncRNAs were found to regulate the apoptotic process and to play a role in tumor cell resistance to treatment. The apoptotic program is on the frontline as self-defense from cancer onset, and evasion of apoptosis has been classified as one of the hallmarks of cancer responsible for therapy failure.

miR-663 sustains NSCLC by inhibiting mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (MOMP) through PUMA/BBC3 and BTG2.

Treatment of lung cancer is an unmet need as it accounts for the majority of cancer deaths worldwide. The development of new therapies urges the identification of potential targets. MicroRNAs' expression is often deregulated in cancer and their modulation has been proposed as a successful strategy to interfere with tumor cell growth and spread.