¹Laval University Cancer Research Center, Hôtel-Dieu de Québec (CHUQ), Quebec City, Québec, Canada

Correspondence: Dr MJ Simard, Laval University Cancer Research Center, Hôtel-Dieu de Québec (CHUQ), Quebec City, Québec, Canada G1R 2J6. E-mail: Martin.Simard@crhdq.ulaval.ca

Abstract

Altering cell proliferation and differentiation are usually key events leading to cancer. As originally demonstrated by Sydney Brenner in 1960s, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans represents an animal model of choice to study mechanisms important to maintain proper cellular behaviour. This round worm has helped to elucidate components as well as new cellular pathways required for animal development. Among them, the discovery of the programmed cell death and non-coding RNAs (microRNAs) controlling gene expression are two remarkable examples. Recently, two studies have demonstrated, once again, that using C. elegans can help gathering insights on cellular mechanisms leading to tumour formation. Two microRNAs, miR-84 and miR-61, control the expression of the oncogene orthologues Ras and Vav indicating their capacity to act as tumour suppressors. These observations demonstrate that uncovering the function of microRNAs is important to increase our understanding of cancer.