A MicroRNA Cluster as a Potential Breast Cancer Oncogene
Abstract
microRNAs (miRNAs) are small, regulatory RNAs that silence target genes by repressing translation and destabilizing mRNAs (1). Recent studies have demonstrated the importance of miRNAs in molecular mechanisms for the oncogenic and tumor suppressor pathways (2) (3) (4). We have identified a novel oncogenic miRNA polycistron, mir17-92, as a potential human oncogene in B-cell lymphomas (5). Since mir17-92 is overexpressed in a subset of breast tumor samples, we explored the role of mir17-92 in the tumorigenesis of breast tumor. Mir-17-92 is able to collaborate with c-myc to accelerate breast tumor formation, and we are further characterizing the molecular mechanisms for this oncogenic collaboration. In addition, we have recently identified a miRNA component of the p53 pathway. mir-34 family microRNAs are direct transcriptional target of p53, and are able to induce growth arrest in both primary cells and tumor cell lines. Since p53 pathway is an important tumor suppressor mechanism in breast cancer development, we will further look into the roles of mir-34 miRNAs in preventing tumorigenesis in breast epithelia.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA468511
Entities
People
- Gregory Hannon
Organizations
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory