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Review

OncomiR or Tumor Suppressor? The Duplicity of MicroRNAs in Cancer

Alexander A. Svoronos, Donald M. Engelman and Frank J. Slack
Alexander A. Svoronos
Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.
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Donald M. Engelman
Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.
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  • For correspondence: fslack@bidmc.harvard.edudonald.engelman@yale.edu
Frank J. Slack
Institute for RNA Medicine, Departments of Pathology and Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
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  • For correspondence: fslack@bidmc.harvard.edudonald.engelman@yale.edu
DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-16-0359
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Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNA) are short, noncoding RNAs whose dysregulation has been implicated in most, if not all, cancers. They regulate gene expression by suppressing mRNA translation and reducing mRNA stability. To this end, there is a great deal of interest in modifying miRNA expression levels for the treatment of cancer. However, the literature is fraught with inconsistent accounts as to whether various miRNAs are oncogenic or tumor suppressive. In this review, we directly examine these inconsistencies and propose several mechanisms to explain them. These mechanisms include the possibility that specific miRNAs can simultaneously produce competing oncogenic and tumor suppressive effects by suppressing both tumor suppressive mRNAs and oncogenic mRNAs, respectively. In addition, miRNAs can modulate tumor-modifying extrinsic factors, such as cancer-immune system interactions, stromal cell interactions, oncoviruses, and sensitivity to therapy. Ultimately, it is the balance between these processes that determines whether a specific miRNA produces a net oncogenic or net tumor suppressive effect. A solid understanding of this phenomenon will likely prove valuable in evaluating miRNA targets for cancer therapy. Cancer Res; 76(13); 1–5. ©2016 AACR.

  • Received February 10, 2016.
  • Revision received March 23, 2016.
  • Accepted April 4, 2016.
  • ©2016 American Association for Cancer Research.
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Published OnlineFirst June 20, 2016
doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-16-0359

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OncomiR or Tumor Suppressor? The Duplicity of MicroRNAs in Cancer
Alexander A. Svoronos, Donald M. Engelman and Frank J. Slack
Cancer Res June 20 2016 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-16-0359

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OncomiR or Tumor Suppressor? The Duplicity of MicroRNAs in Cancer
Alexander A. Svoronos, Donald M. Engelman and Frank J. Slack
Cancer Res June 20 2016 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-16-0359
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Cancer Research Online ISSN: 1538-7445
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Journal of Cancer Research ISSN: 0099-7013
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