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RETRACTED ARTICLE: Roles of MicroRNAs and Other Non-coding RNAs in Breast Cancer Metastasis

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This article was retracted on 20 August 2016

Abstract

Despite the fact that metastases are responsible for the overwhelming majority of human cancer deaths, our comprehension of the molecular events that drive metastatic progression remains woefully incomplete. Excitingly, the recent appreciation that various species of non-coding RNAs—including microRNAs—play pivotal roles in dictating the malignant behaviors of breast carcinoma cells promises to afford new insights into the molecular circuitry that determines metastatic propensity. Here, I summarize our current knowledge regarding these still-emerging functions for non-coding RNAs in the pathogenesis of breast cancer metastasis, with an emphasis placed upon the roles played by microRNAs in these processes. Additionally, I discuss the potential translational opportunities afforded by these research findings for the diagnosis and treatment of human breast tumors. When assessed collectively, it is apparent that although this field of research is still in its infancy, comprehension of the biological actions of microRNAs and other non-coding RNAs will hold important consequences for our understanding of the etiology of metastatic disease, as well as its clinical management and treatment.

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Abbreviations

Bcl-2:

B-cell lymphoma-2

BM:

basement membrane

BMI1:

B lymphoma Mo-MLV insertion region-1

ceRNA:

competing endogenous RNA

CTC:

circulating tumor cell

ECM:

extracellular matrix

EGFR:

epidermal growth factor receptor

EMT:

epithelial-mesenchymal transition

HMGA2:

high mobility group AT-hook-2

HoxD10:

homeobox-D10

IGFBP2:

insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2

ITGA3:

integrin α3

ITGA5:

integrin α5

ITGA5:

integrin α5

ITGA5:

integrin α5

Klf4:

Kruppel-like factor-4

lincRNA:

long intergenic non-coding RNA

MERTK:

c-mer proto-oncogene tyrosine kinase

miRNA:

microRNA

MMP:

matrix metalloproteinase

ncRNA:

non-coding RNA

PDCD4:

programmed cell death-4

PITPNC1:

phosphatidylinositol transfer protein cytoplasmic-1

PRC2:

polycomb repressive complex-2

RDX:

radixin

rRNA:

ribosomal RNA

siRNA:

small interfering RNA

Sox4:

sex determining region Y-box-4

TFAP2C:

transcription factor AP-2 gamma

TIC:

tumor-initiating cell

TIMP3:

tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-3

tRNA:

transfer RNA

UCR:

unltraconserved region

UTR:

untranslated region

VEGFR:

vascular endothelial growth factor

ZEB:

zinc finger E-box binding homeobox

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Acknowledgments

The author’s research is supported by the NIH, U.S. Department of Defense, and Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation. S.V. is the Harry Kriegel Fellow of the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation. S.V. is an inventor on patent applications based in part on findings pertaining to miR-31 detailed in this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, 200 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Scott Valastyan

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Correspondence to Scott Valastyan.

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This article, Roles of MicroRNAs and Other Non-coding RNAs in Breast Cancer Metastasis, by S. Valastyan, published in Journal of Mammary Gland Biology & Neoplasia, Volume 17, Issue 1, pages 23-32 (10.1007/s10911-012-9241-9), has been retracted at the request of the Editor-in-Chief because several studies referenced within the paper have subsequently been retracted due to data manipulation, which is a serious form of publishing misconduct.

An erratum to this article is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10911-016-9360-9.

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Valastyan, S. RETRACTED ARTICLE: Roles of MicroRNAs and Other Non-coding RNAs in Breast Cancer Metastasis. J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia 17, 23–32 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10911-012-9241-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10911-012-9241-9

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