Polymorphisms in non-coding RNA genes and their targets sites as risk factors of sporadic colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a complex disease that develops as a consequence of both genetic and environmental risk factors in interplay with epigenetic mechanisms, such as microRNAs (miRNAs). CRC cases are predominantly sporadic in which the disease develops with no apparent hereditary syndrome. The last decade has seen the progress of genomewide association studies (GWAS) that allowed the discovery of several genetic regions and variants associated with weak effects on sporadic CRC. Collectively these variants may enable a more accurate prediction of an individual’s risk to the disease and its prognosis. However, the number of variants contributing to CRC is still not fully explored. SNPs in genes encoding the miRNA sequence or in 3′UTR regions of the corresponding binding sites may affect miRNA transcription, miRNA processing, and/or the fi delity of the miRNA–mRNA interaction. These variants could plausibly impact miRNA expression and target mRNA translation into proteins critical for cellular integrity, differentiation, and proliferation. In the present chapter, we describe the different aspects of variations related to miRNAs and other non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) and evidence from studies investigating these candidate genetic alterations in support to their role in CRC development and progression.