Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short, 18–25-nucleotide long, non-coding single-stranded RNAs, which are capable to regulate gene expression on post-transcriptional level through binding to their target protein-encoding mRNAs. miRNAs regulate individual components of multiple oncogenic pathways. One of them is epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signalling pathway that regulates cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, angiogenesis and apoptosis. All these processes are deregulated in colorectal cancer (CRC). Moreover, EGFR has been validated as the therapeutic target in CRC, and monoclonal antibodies cetuximab and panitumumab are used in the therapy of patients with metastatic CRC. Because of the extensive involvement of miRNAs in the regulation of EGFR signalling, it seems they could also serve as promising predictive biomarkers to anti-EGFR therapy. In this review, we summarize current knowledge about miRNAs targeting EGFR signalling pathway, their functioning in CRC pathogenesis and potential usage as biomarkers.
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Acknowledgments
This work was supported by Grant IGA NT/13860-4/2012 and NT13549-4/2012 of the Czech Ministry of Health, by Institutional Resources for Supporting the Research Organization provided by the Czech Ministry of Health in 2013 and by the project “CEITEC—Central European Institute of Technology” (CZ.1.05/1.1.00/02.0068).
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Jitka Mlcochova and Petra Faltejskova contributed equally to this work.
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Mlcochova, J., Faltejskova, P., Nemecek, R. et al. MicroRNAs targeting EGFR signalling pathway in colorectal cancer. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 139, 1615–1624 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-013-1470-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-013-1470-9