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World J Gastroenterol. May 21, 2014; 20(19): 5694-5699
Published online May 21, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i19.5694
Role of microRNAs in gastric cancer
Hideyuki Ishiguro, Masahiro Kimura, Hiromitsu Takeyama
Hideyuki Ishiguro, Masahiro Kimura, Hiromitsu Takeyama, Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya 467-8601, Japan
Author contributions: Ishiguro H and Kimura M gathered the papers and performed the research; Ishiguro H and Takeyama H analyzed the data and wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Hideyuki Ishiguro, MD, PhD, Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1 Kawasumi Mizuho-cho Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8601, Japan. h-ishi@med.nagoya-cu.ac.jp
Telephone: +81-52-8538226 Fax: +81-52-8423906
Received: October 26, 2013
Revised: December 11, 2013
Accepted: January 19, 2014
Published online: May 21, 2014
Abstract

Although gastric cancer (GC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death, major therapeutic advances have not been made, and patients with GC still face poor outcomes. The prognosis of GC also remains poor because the molecular mechanisms of GC progression are incompletely understood. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are noncoding RNAs that are associated with gastric carcinogenesis. Studies investigating the regulation of gene expression by miRNAs have made considerable progress in recent years, and abnormalities in miRNA expression have been shown to be associated with the occurrence and progression of GC. miRNAs contribute to gastric carcinogenesis by altering the expression of oncogenes and tumor suppressors, affecting cell proliferation, apoptosis, motility, and invasion. Moreover, a number of miRNAs have been shown to be associated with tumor type, tumor stage, and patient survival and therefore may be developed as novel diagnostic or prognostic markers. In this review, we discuss the involvement of miRNAs in GC and the mechanisms through which they regulate gene expression and biological functions. Then, we review recent research on the involvement of miRNAs in GC prognosis, their potential use in chemotherapy, and their effects on Helicobacter pylori infections in GC. A greater understanding of the roles of miRNAs in gastric carcinogenesis could provide insights into the mechanisms of tumor development and could help to identify novel therapeutic targets.

Keywords: MicroRNA, Gastric cancer, Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, Chemosensitivity, Helicobacter pylori, Circulating MicroRNA

Core tip: In this review, we discuss the involvement of miRNAs in gastric cancer (GC) and the mechanisms through which they regulate gene expression and biological functions. Then, we review recent research on the involvement of miRNAs in GC prognosis, their potential use in chemotherapy, and their effects on Helicobacter pylori infections in GC. A greater understanding of the roles of miRNAs in gastric carcinogenesis could provide insights into the mechanisms of tumor development and could help to identify novel therapeutic targets.