MicroRNA expression in melanocytes and melanoma cells

Diagnostic biomarkers cancer diagnostics at preclinical stage seem to be a very promising strategy to increase effectiveness of anti-cancer treatment. Currently there are no such biomarkers available for daily routine practice. However, there are some candidate molecules in research that possibly can be used as biomarkers for early diagnosis, one of them is microRNA. MicroRNA is a small, 20–25 bp, non-coding RNA that is highly involved into epigenetic regulation of gene expression. These molecules participate in malignant transformation of normal cells into cancer cells including melanoma. And moreover, definite expression level of some microRNAs are essential for normal differentiation and function of human cells. Changes in microRNA profile are one of the reasons for malignant tumor development. Identification of these changes may help to develop diagnostic systems to start anti-cancer treatment at early stages.