New biomolecular prognostic and predictive factors of response to treatment in colo-rectal cancer

microRNAs are small single-stranded RNA molecules of approximately 22 nucleotides that function as post-transcriptional gene regulators. MiRNAs play important roles in the control of many biological processes, such as cellular development, differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis and metabolism. miRNA expression is aberrant in several human tumors. The biologic roles of miRNAs in cancer suggest a correlation with prognosis and therapeutic outcome. In our study, we examined by microarray the expression of 939 miRNArole in fresh biopsies of 39 patients affected by local advanced rectal cancer, treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and surgery, with the aim to investigate the possible predictive and prognostic role. We have identified 14 miRNA which correlate significantly with Tumor Regression Grade 1. Our results suggest that miRNA expression profile could have relevance as prognostic and predictive factor of response to chemo-radiotherapy in colo-rectal cancer.