MicroRNA and Cancer June 8 - 12, 2007
MicroRNA and Cancer June 8 - 12, 2007
Keystone, CO
To date, most studies of the genetic mutations that contribute to tumor formation have focused on alterations in the sequence, gene structure, copy number and expression of protein coding genes. However, we find increasingly that the genome generates a diversity of non-coding RNAs, many of which have unknown functions. MicroRNAs act through the RNAi pathway to regulate the expression of protein coding genes, which they recognize through complementary base pairing. Accumulating data suggests causal roles for microRNAs in human cancer, including observations of microRNA genes at tumor-associated chromosomal lesions and direct demonstrations that altered expression of microRNAs can accelerate tumor development. Analysis of microRNA expression signatures may contribute to cancer diagnosis, and microRNAs themselves are potential targets for cancer therapy. This meeting will highlight emerging roles of microRNAs in tumorigenesis and place these in the context of microRNAs biochemistry and biology. Bringing together investigators from two distinct fields, namely RNA and cancer biology, will facilitate new ideas regarding the means by which microRNAs impact tumor initiation and progression.
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