The Emerging Function and Mechanism of ceRNAs in Cancer

Complex diseases, such as cancer, are often associated with aberrant gene expression at both the transcriptional and post-transcriptional level. Over the past several years, competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) have emerged as an important class of post-transcriptional regulators that alter gene expression through a miRNA-mediated mechanism. Recent studies in both solid tumors and hematopoietic malignancies showed that ceRNAs have significant roles in cancer pathogenesis by altering the expression of key tumorigenic or tumor-suppressive genes. Characterizing the identity, function, and mechanism of the ceRNAs will not only further our fundamental understanding of RNA-mediated cancer pathogenesis, but may also shed light on the development of new RNA-based therapeutic strategies for treating cancer. In recent years, ceRNAs have emerged as an important class of post-transcriptional regulators that alter gene expression through a miRNA-mediated mechanism.Studies in both solid tumors and hematopoietic malignancies showed that ceRNAs have important roles in different aspects of cancer etiology, suggesting that ceRNAs have potential as therapeutic targets.A combination of computational and experimental approaches has been instrumental in characterizing the identity, function, and mechanism of the ceRNAs.