Mohammed Y Almaghrabi
Prince Faisal Cancer Center, Saudi Arabia
Title: Micro RNA (miRNA): Utility in oncology
Biography
Biography: Mohammed Y Almaghrabi
Abstract
Over the last decade, there has been a growing interest in mircoRNA (miRNA) and their utility in the field of Oncology. MicroRNA molecules are now being utilized as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for stratification of patient as well as therapeutic agents. MiRNA is a non-coding RNA which regulates the expression of various oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes. Alterations in the microRNA target binding sites and the microRNA itself, in tumors, have been implicated for their diagnostic utility in malignancies. Some of the tumor suppressors such as the p53 and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), are down regulated in most of the neoplasms. These are potential targets for miRNA. Recent research has also shown that miRNA would also be useful in identification and stratification of chemotherapy agents. MicroRNA might help distinguish patients with stable oligometastatic disease from patients with progression to polymetastatic disease.