MicroRNA: A New Player for Cancer Chemoprevention

Yaguang Xi

doi:10.4172/2329-6771.1000105

Abstract

In 2012, a total of 1,638,910 new cases and 577,190 deaths from cancer are projected to occur in the United States [1]. From 2004 to 2008, the overall cancer death rate was decreased by 1.8% in men versus 1.6% in women yearly, which may result from the successful implementation of early detection, treatment, and prevention methods [1]. Although its potential has not yet been fully realized, chemoprevention by using pharmaceuticals (e.g. anti-inflammatory drugs) to retard or reverse the process of carcinogenesis and progression of cancer has been recognized to benefit individuals with precancerous lesions or with genetic susceptibility to cancer [2-4]. The concept of chemoprevention encompasses all stages of disease progression including the prevention of tumor initiation through DNA repair, detoxification, free-radical scavenging, and carcinogen metabolism; prevention of tumor promotion by inhibiting proliferation or inducing differentiation or apoptosis; and the inhibition of tumor progression by suppressing tumor cell invasion and metastasis [5].

Highlights

In 2012, a total of 1,638,910 new cases and 577,190 deaths from cancer are projected to occur in the United States [1]
Tumor metastasis is a hallmark of malignant disease that is often responsible for chemotherapy failure and death of the patient
In particular, has been shown to display strong efficacy for the treatment of precancerous lesions in patients with Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) in which treatment can suppress adenoma size and number by as much as 60-70% [8]. These observations are consistent with a large number of preclinical studies that have shown the ability of sulindac and other Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) to inhibit tumorigenesis and tumor progression in various experimental animal models [9,10,11,12]

Summary

Introduction

In 2012, a total of 1,638,910 new cases and 577,190 deaths from cancer are projected to occur in the United States [1]. Tumor metastasis is a hallmark of malignant disease that is often responsible for chemotherapy failure and death of the patient. Prevention of tumor cell invasion and metastasis represents a largely unexplored target for chemoprevention in patients with malignant disease who are at risk of disease progression.

Results

Conclusion