Differences in MicroRNA expression profiles of adrenocortical tumors--letter

MicroRNAs in adrenal tumors: relevance for pathogenesis, diagnosis, and therapy

Several lines of evidence support the relevance of microRNAs in both adrenocortical and adrenomedullary (pheochromocytomas) tumors. Significantly differentially expressed microRNAs have been described among benign and malignant adrenocortical tumors and different forms of pheochromocytomas that might affect different pathogenic pathways. MicroRNAs can be exploited as markers of malignancy or disease recurrence. Besides tissue microRNAs, novel data show that microRNAs are released in body fluids, and blood-borne microRNAs can be envisaged as minimally invasive markers of malignancy or prognosis. MicroRNAs might even serve as treatment targets that could expand the rather-limited therapeutic repertoire in the field of adrenal tumors. In this review, we present a critical synopsis of the recent observations made in the field of adrenal tumor-associated microRNAs regarding their pathogenic, diagnostic, and potential therapeutic relevance.

Pediatric adrenocortical tumors: diagnosis, management and advancements in the understanding of the genetic basis and therapeutic implications

Adrenocortical tumors (ACTs) may be sporadic or related to inherited genetic syndromes. Uncovering the molecular defects underlying these genetic syndromes has revealed key signaling pathways involved in adrenocortical tumorigenesis. Although the understanding of ACT biology has improved, to date, very few potential prognostic molecular markers of childhood ACTs have been identified. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of the epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment options for pediatric patients with ACTs. A review of the genetic basis of adrenocortical tumorigenesis is presented, focusing on the main molecular abnormalities involved in the tumorigenic process and potential novel therapy targets that have been generated, or are being generated, with the discovery of these molecular defects.

Noncoding RNAs in endocrine malignancy

Only recently has it been uncovered that the mammalian transcriptome includes a large number of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) that play a variety of important regulatory roles in gene expression and other biological processes. Among numerous kinds of ncRNAs, short noncoding RNAs, such as microRNAs, have been extensively investigated with regard to their biogenesis, function, and importance in carcinogenesis. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have only recently been implicated in playing a key regulatory role in cancer biology. The deregulation of ncRNAs has been demonstrated to have important roles in the regulation and progression of cancer development. In this review, we describe the roles of both short noncoding RNAs (including microRNAs, small nuclear RNAs, and piwi-interacting RNAs) and lncRNAs in carcinogenesis and outline the possible underlying genetic mechanisms, with particular emphasis on clinical applications. The focus of our review includes studies from the literature on ncRNAs in traditional endocrine-related cancers, including thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal gland, and gastrointestinal neuroendocrine malignancies. The current and potential future applications of ncRNAs in clinical cancer research is also discussed, with emphasis on diagnosis and future treatment.