The complex roles of microRNAs in the metastasis of renal cell carcinoma

Abstract

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) accounts for approximately 3% of cancers in adults as well as the most common neoplasm of the adult kidney with the highest mortality rate at over 40%. Metastasis is the most significant process affecting the clinical management of RCC patients. It occurs in multiple sequential steps. However, the molecular pathways underlying each step still remain obscure. Recent researches have shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) function as regulators in metastasis of RCC. In this article, we review the role of miRNAs in metastasis of RCC, including: specific miRNA signatures of metastatic RCC, metastasis-associated targets and pathways of miRNAs in RCC, miRNAs participate in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), miRNA DNA methylation signature in RCC metastasis and so on. MiRNAs are potential to serve as powerful biomarkers of RCC metastasis and novel therapeutic targets in RCC treatment.