microRNA suppresses genes that trigger cancer progression

microRNA suppresses genes that trigger cancer progression June 26, 2007 Levels of a small non-coding RNA molecule called let-7 appear to define different stages of cancer better than some of the "classical" markers for tumor progression, researchers from the University of Chicago report in the June 25, 2007, early online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. By suppressing genes that are active in the developing embryo, silenced just before birth, and re-activated years later in many advanced cancers, the let-7 family of "microRNAs"—tiny snippets of RNA that can put the brakes on expression of selected genes—appears to prevent human cancer cells from reasserting their prenatal capacity to divide rapidly, travel and spread. ......... ZenMaster

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