The Role of MicroRNA in the Metastatic Phenotype of Bladder Cancer

Abstract

Bladder cancer is among the most common cancers globally, with significant mortality associated with more advanced disease. Early detection and diagnostic accuracy are thus fundamental to the clinical pathway for managing bladder cancer. MicroRNA (miRNA) are small, non-coding segments of RNA that regulate gene expression and have been implicated in the process of carcinogenesis. Dysregulation and aberrant expression of miRNAs have been shown to have both oncogenic and tumor suppressive effects. A vast number of miRNAs, across the entire field of cancer biology, have already been identified and characterized, and many of these have been associated with bladder cancer. These miRNAs have furthered our understanding of the genetic profile of bladder cancer, and ultimately, may be utilized in the detection, prognosis, and treatment of this disease. This chapter focuses on the role of miRNA in the pathogenesis of metastatic