Description
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are naturally occurring small non-coding molecules that have come to the forefront as important regulators of genes and gene products that contribute to tumor generation and growth by controlling cellular processes such as cell cycle, apoptosis, and differentiation. While the literature contains many studies of miRNAs in primary cancers such as pancreatic, lung, and breast, and primary brain tumors such as glioblastoma, there is a dearth of studies of microRNAs in meningiomas, particularly high-grade. Establishing miRNA signatures for these extra-axial tumors based upon a constellation of up-regulated (oncogenic) and downregulated (tumor suppressor) miRNAs will provide invaluable tools for the development of new therapeutics. Our current study is completing microRNA profiles from WHO grades I, II and III (n=20 each) from archived formalin-fixed paraffin –embedded specimens. This project is in collaboration with Fazlul Sarkar, PhD, in the Dept. of Pathology, WSU School of Medicine.