Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2023 Jan;95(1):e28375.
doi: 10.1002/jmv.28375.

MicroRNA dysregulations in Merkel cell carcinoma: Molecular mechanisms and clinical applications

Chiara Mazziotta  1   2 , Christian Felice Cervellera  1 , Carmen Lanzillotti  1   2 , Antoine Touzé  3 , Pauline Gaboriaud  3 , Mauro Tognon  1 , Fernanda Martini  1   2   4 , John Charles Rotondo  1   2
Affiliations
Review

MicroRNA dysregulations in Merkel cell carcinoma: Molecular mechanisms and clinical applications

Chiara Mazziotta et al. J Med Virol. 2023 Jan.

Abstract

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive skin malignancy with two distinct etiologies. The first, which accounts for the highest proportion, is caused by Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV), a DNA tumor virus. A second, UV-induced, MCC form has also been identified. Few MCC diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic options are available. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNA molecules, which play a key role in regulating various physiologic cellular functions including cell cycling, proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Numerous miRNAs are dysregulated in cancer, by acting as either tumor suppressors or oncomiRs. The aim of this review is to collect, summarize, and discuss recent findings on miRNAs whose dysregulation has been assumed to play a role in MCC. The potential clinical application of miRNAs as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in MCC is also described. In the future, miRNAs will potentially gain clinical significance for the improvement of MCC diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic options.

Keywords: Merkel cell carcinoma; Merkel cell polyomavirus; epigenetics; miRNA; microRNA.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

REFERENCES

    1. Rotondo JC, Mazziotta C, Lanzillotti C, Tognon M, Martini F. Epigenetic dysregulations in Merkel cell polyomavirus-driven Merkel cell carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci. 2021;22(21):11464. doi:10.3390/ijms222111464
    1. Farooq Baba PU, Rasool Z, Younas Khan I, et al. Merkel cell carcinoma: from pathobiology to clinical management. Biology. 2021;10(12):1293. doi:10.3390/BIOLOGY10121293
    1. Konstantinell A, Coucheron D, Sveinbjørnsson B, Moens U. MicroRNAs as potential biomarkers in Merkel cell carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci. 2018;19:1873. doi:10.3390/ijms19071873
    1. Decaprio JA. Molecular pathogenesis of Merkel cell carcinoma. Annu Rev Pathol: Mech Dis. 2021;16:69-91. doi:10.1146/annurev-pathmechdis-012419-032817
    1. Mazziotta C, Lanzillotti C, Gafà R, et al. The role of histone post-translational modifications in Merkel cell carcinoma. Front Oncol. 2022;12:578. doi:10.3389/FONC.2022.832047

Publication types

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources