Data published in Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, offers new insights into the biology of urothelial carcinoma of the bladder. Specifically, microRNA profiles differ according to clinical disease phenotype, therefore, scientists may be able to use these profiles to identify gene-regulatory and biological differences between tumors.

via medicalnewstoday.com

The idea that microRNA could be used for disease biomarkers and therapeutic targets is not an entirely new one, but this data is particularly interesting because it showed differences in microRNA expression between low and high grade bladder cancers.

FGFR3 upregulation by microRNA prior to mutation being developed suggests interesting epigenetic-genetic interactions. Further studies are now underway looking at different stages of the disease.

The abstract can be accessed here.

Posted via web from sally church's posterous