Background
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are 18–24 nucleotide RNA molecules that regulate the stability or translational
efficiency of target mRNAs. These regulatory RNAs function by acting as sequence-specific guides
which recruit a large protein complex known as the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) to target
mRNAs which are subsequently silenced. Diverse functions have been attributed to miRNAs including
the regulation of cellular differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis. Moreover, significant evidence has
accumulated implicating a fundamental role for miRNAs in the development of cancer.