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Epigenetics, miRNAs, and human cancer: a new chapter in human gene regulation

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Abstract

Cancer is a genetic and epigenetic disease. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small noncoding RNAs, have been shown to be deregulated in many diseases including cancer. An intertwined connection between epigenetics and miRNAs has been supported by the recent identification of a specific subgroup of miRNAs called “epi-miRNAs” that can directly and indirectly modulate the activity of the epigenetic machinery. The complexity of this connection is enhanced by the epigenetic regulation of miRNA expression that generates a fine regulatory feedback loop. This review focuses on how epigenetics affects the miRNome and how the recently identified epi-miRNAs regulate the epigenome in human cancers, ultimately contributing to human carcinogenesis.

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Acknowledgments

Nicola Valeri is supported by an American-Italian Cancer Foundation Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship. Muller Fabbri is supported by a 2009 Kimmel Scholar Award.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology, and Medical Genetics and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA

    Nicola Valeri, Federica Calore, Brett Adair & Muller Fabbri

  2. Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori, Meldola, 47014, Italy

    Ivan Vannini, Francesca Fanini & Muller Fabbri

  3. Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Biomedical Research Tower, 460 West 12th Avenue, Room 1092, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA

    Muller Fabbri

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  1. Nicola Valeri
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  2. Ivan Vannini
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  3. Francesca Fanini
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  4. Federica Calore
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Correspondence to Muller Fabbri.

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Valeri, N., Vannini, I., Fanini, F. et al. Epigenetics, miRNAs, and human cancer: a new chapter in human gene regulation. Mamm Genome 20, 573–580 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00335-009-9206-5

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