Hallmarks of cancer and AU-rich elements

Post-transcriptional control of gene expression is aberrant in cancer cells. Sustained stabilization and enhanced translation of specific mRNAs are features of tumor cells. AU-rich elements (AREs), cis-acting mRNA decay determinants, play a major role in the posttranscriptional regulation of many genes involved in cancer processes. This review discusses the role of aberrant ARE-mediated posttranscriptional processes in each of the hallmarks of cancer, including sustained cellular growth, resistance to apoptosis, angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis. (C) 2016 The Authors. WIREs RNA published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.