MiR-128, a key regulator of oncogenic properties

MicroRNAs (miRNA) are small noncoding RNAs that are critical regulators of gene function. In the recent years, miRNAs have been increasingly noted for their capacity to regulate key malignant properties of tumor cells. MicroRNA-128 (miR-128) is a brain-enriched miRNA that is normally involved in the development of the nervous system and in the maintenance of neural physiological functions. In tumor cells, miR-128 expression is dysregulated through a variety of genetic and epigenetic events. Dysregulation of miR-128 has profound effects on tumorigenesis and maintenance of tumor cells through alterations in cellular proliferation, differentiation, metabolism, and apoptosis. This article will review the latest advances in our understanding of miR-128, specifically in the context of clinical and fundamental cancer biology. Further characterization of miR-128 will likely identify its new roles in cancer biology. The use of miR-128 as a diagnostic and/or therapeutic tool may result in improvements in diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of numerous cancers.