FAU own research funding: EFI / IZKF / EAM ...
Start date : 01.01.2015
End date : 31.12.2015
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules that act as antisense inhibitors of target mRNA translation. Some miRNAs are secreted into body fluids, and it has been found that immune, tumor and stem cells secrete exosomes enriched in miRNAs. These exosomes are significantly elevated in the serum of cancer patients.
We hypothesize that serum exosomes from melanoma patients are originated, at least partially, from immune cells and can be taken up by tumor cells. Moreover, these exosomes contain high amounts of miRNAs and our hypothesis is that they can regulate the biochemical pathways of tumor cells. To substantiate this hypothesis for the case of melanoma, we want to implement a workflow in which tools from data analysis, bioinformatics, and mathematical modeling will be employed to detect critical miRNAs expressed in patient plasma exosomes and the potential melanoma pathways they target.