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Review
. 2016 Mar 10:35:43.
doi: 10.1186/s13046-016-0320-4.

MicroRNAs in colorectal carcinoma--from pathogenesis to therapy

Yudan Chi  1 , Dongming Zhou  2
Affiliations
Review

MicroRNAs in colorectal carcinoma--from pathogenesis to therapy

Yudan Chi et al. J Exp Clin Cancer Res. .

Abstract

Background: Acting as inflammatory mediators, tumor oncogenes or suppressors, microRNAs are involved in cell survival, death, epithelial-mesenchymal transition and metastasis, etc. Investigating the communication between microRNAs and tumorigenesis is critical to our understanding of the pathogenesis of multiple disease states.

Main body: Currently, colorectal carcinoma (CRC), one of the most common malignancies worldwide, has a poor prognosis due to lack of an effective therapeutic option. Increasing evidence has identified altered profiles and regulatory potential of microRNAs in conditions related to environmentally-caused colorectal inflammation and colitis-associated cancer. Many studies have shed light on a more thorough understanding of the function and distribution of microRNAs in CRC initiation and emergence. However, the molecular mechanisms by which microRNAs modulate cellular processes still need to be further elucidated and may offer a foundation for evaluating microRNA-based therapeutic potential for CRC in both animal models and clinical trials.

Conclusion: In this review, the roles and mechanisms of microRNAs involved in CRC from pathogenesis to therapy are summarized and discussed, which may provide more useful hints for CRC prevention and therapy.

Keywords: Cancer therapy; Colorectal carcinoma; Diagnosis; MicroRNA; Pathogenesis.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
MiRNAs in inflammation-related colorectal carcinoma. NF-KB signaling maintained constitutive activation of pro-inflammatory pathways as essential components during carcinogenesis. Many miRNAs target NF-κB signaling molecules to inhibit (miR-324-5p, miR-21, miR-181b-1, miR-126) or promote (miR-146, miR-122, miR-192, miR-495, miR-671) inflammatory response in the development of colorectal carcinoma
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Regulation of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) in colorectal carcinogenesis by miRNAs. Many miRNAs, such as miR-29b, miR-29c, miR-200c, miR-34a, regulate EMT by suppressing EMT-related transcription factors and signaling pathways. The other miRNAs, such as miR-29a, promote EMT in colorectal carcinogenesis
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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