microRNA Regulation and Its Consequences in Cancer.

MicroRNA (miRNA) function has been studied extensively in the last two decades. These short, non-coding RNAs influence a variety of cellular processes through repression of target genes. With the number of genes that a single miRNA can target, the biological effects of one miRNA alone can be vast. In cancer, aberrant miRNA expression is ubiquitous and consequently it can provoke progression of the disease. Though much is known about the downstream effects of miRNA, the mechanisms that control the level of miRNA expression itself are not well documented. In this review, we will focus on how miRNAs are regulated as well as potential therapeutic targets that can be exploited for cancer therapy.