Les microARNs

MiRNAs are small non-coding RNAs ensuring the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Their expression is tissue-specific and some miRNAs have diagnostic and / or prognostic value for tumor classes. MiRNAs are involved in tumorigenesis by two mechanisms: amplification or deletion of chromosomal regions containing clusters of genes encoding miRNAs (quantitative effect) or modification of the effects of miRNAs on their target genes by mutation in the region of interaction with the mRNA (qualitative effect). Their specificity, the possibility for miRNA measurement in blood, must now lead to consider miRNAs as markers for therapeutic management. A better understanding of the different regulatory mechanisms involving miRNAs will also consider new therapeutic approaches