MicroRNA(miRNA)是一类内源性非编码蛋白短链RNA，其基因转录后经过一系剪切转运过程形成成熟型的miRNA，并通过调控mRNA表达和翻译方式发挥许多重要的生物学效应。不同miRNA可呈现出癌基因或抑癌基因样功能，并有一定的组织特异性。多种恶性肿瘤的发生过程与miRNA表达谱的改变密切相关。miRNA调控着肿瘤的分化、增殖、凋亡、侵袭、转移及耐药等多种生物学行为。此外，一些miRNA对预测肿瘤患者的预后也有着重要的临床意义。

miRNA is a kind of endogenous noncoding short RNA. Mature miRNA was formed through the process of shearing and transporting after genetic transcription. miRNA exhibits many important biological functions through regulating expression and translation of target mRNAs. Different miRNAs may act as oncogenes or antioncogenes, and have tissue specificity. The progress of the tumorigenesis is usually accompanied by expressionprofile changes of miRNAs. MiRNA regulates many tumor biological behaviors such as differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, metastasis, and drug resistance of tumors. Furthermore, some miRNAs have clinical significance in predicting prognosis of tumor patients.

河北省医学科学研究重点课题计划资助（No.20090169）