MicroRNAs in mesothelioma: from tumour suppressors and biomarkers to therapeutic targets

Malignant mesothelioma remains a difficult proposition in the clinic, with few accurate molecular markers available to guide diagnosis and patient management, and a dearth of effective treatments. Recent evidence implicates microRNAs—short non-coding RNAs involved in post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression—in mesothelioma biology. Emerging evidence suggests that exploring aberrant microRNA expression will not only improve our understanding of the disease, but will also lead to the identification of new molecular biomarkers and therapeutic targets.