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World J Stem Cells. Nov 26, 2014; 6(5): 591-597
Published online Nov 26, 2014. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.v6.i5.591
Roles of microRNA-140 in stem cell-associated early stage breast cancer
Benjamin Wolfson, Gabriel Eades, Qun Zhou
Benjamin Wolfson, Gabriel Eades, Qun Zhou, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, United States
Author contributions: Wolfson B wrote the manuscript; Eades G reviewed the manuscript; Zhou Q designed the aim of the review and reviewed the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Qun Zhou, Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 108 North Greene Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, United States. qzhou@som.umaryland.edu
Telephone: +1-410-7061615 Fax: +1-410-7068297
Received: July 28, 2014
Revised: September 5, 2014
Accepted: September 16, 2014
Published online: November 26, 2014
Processing time: 61 Days and 17.8 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: MiR-140 is an important tumor suppressor. By inhibiting stem cell growth through interaction with the Wnt, SOX2 and SOX9 pathways, breast cancer initiation, progression and growth are reduced. miR-140 is progressively downregulated as breast cancer grade decreases, through both estrogen binding and differential methylation in the miR-140 promoter region. By targeting these mechanisms using epigenetic therapy miR-140 tumor suppressor signaling can be reactivated.