Fassan M, Croce CM, Rugge M. miRNAs in precancerous lesions of the gastrointestinal tract. World J Gastroenterol 2011; 17(48): 5231-5239 [PMID: 22219591 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v17.i48.5231]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Massimo Rugge, MD, FACG, Full Professor of Surgical Pathology, Department of Medical Diagnostic Sciences and Special Therapies, the Surgical Pathology and Cytopathology Unit, University of Padova, Via Aristide Gabelli, 61, 35121 Padova, Italy. massimo.rugge@unipd.it
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World J Gastroenterol. Dec 28, 2011; 17(48): 5231-5239 Published online Dec 28, 2011. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v17.i48.5231
miRNAs in precancerous lesions of the gastrointestinal tract
Matteo Fassan, Carlo M Croce, Massimo Rugge
Matteo Fassan, Massimo Rugge, Department of Medical Diagnostic Sciences and Special Therapies, Surgical Pathology and Cytopathology Unit, University of Padova, 35100 Padova, Italy
Matteo Fassan, Department of Oncological and Surgical Sciences; General Oncology Unit, University of Padova, 35100 Padova, Italy
Carlo M Croce, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
Author contributions: Fassan M reviewed and summarized the literature that provided the basis of the manuscript; Fassan M, Croce CM and Rugge M contributed to the conceptual design of the manuscript and data interpretation; all authors also contributed to drafting the article and critical analysis of the literature discussed; all authors approved the final, submitted manuscript.
Supported by The AIRC grant Veneto Region 2009; the “G. Berlucchi” and “G.B. Morgagni” Foundations
Correspondence to: Massimo Rugge, MD, FACG, Full Professor of Surgical Pathology, Department of Medical Diagnostic Sciences and Special Therapies, the Surgical Pathology and Cytopathology Unit, University of Padova, Via Aristide Gabelli, 61, 35121 Padova, Italy. massimo.rugge@unipd.it
Telephone: +39-49-8218990 Fax: +39-49-8272277
Received: June 23, 2011 Revised: September 13, 2011 Accepted: October 14, 2011 Published online: December 28, 2011
Abstract
In spite of the well-established understanding of the phenotypic lesions occurring in the shift from native epithelia to invasive (adeno) carcinoma, the molecular typing of the precancerous changes in the gastrointestinal tract remains unreliable. In recent years, no biomarkers have aroused as much interest as the miRNAs, a class of non-coding RNA molecules that function as endogenous silencers of numerous target genes. Aberrant miRNA expression is a hallmark of human disease, including cancer. Unlike most mRNAs, miRNAs are both long-living in vivo and very stable in vitro. Such characteristics allow their testing in paraffin-embedded tissue samples, which is essential in the biological profiling of small (phenotypically characterized) preneoplastic lesions of the gastrointestinal tract (as well as in other fields of human pathology). The upcoming challenge lies in the reliable identification of disease-specific targets of dysregulated miRNAs, to enable miRNA testing in the clinical management of the secondary prevention of gastrointestinal cancer.
