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Review
. 2017 Mar 7;8(10):17328-17346.
doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.14461.

Potential roles of microRNAs and ROS in colorectal cancer: diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets

Jingmei Lin  1 , Chia-Chen Chuang  2   3 , Li Zuo  2   3
Affiliations
Review

Potential roles of microRNAs and ROS in colorectal cancer: diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets

Jingmei Lin et al. Oncotarget. .

Abstract

As one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers worldwide, colorectal adenocarcinoma often occurs sporadically in individuals aged 50 or above and there is an increase among younger patients under 50. Routine screenings are recommended for this age group to improve early detection. The multifactorial etiology of colorectal cancer consists of both genetic and epigenetic factors. Recently, studies have shown that the development and progression of colorectal cancer can be attributed to aberrant expression of microRNA. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) that play a key role in cancer cell survival, can also lead to carcinogenesis and cancer exacerbations. Given the rapid accumulating knowledge in the field, an updated review regarding microRNA and ROS in colorectal cancer is necessary. An extensive literature search has been conducted in PubMed/Medline databases to review the roles of microRNAs and ROS in colorectal cancer. Unique microRNA expression in tumor tissue, peripheral blood, and fecal samples from patients with colorectal cancer is outlined. Therapeutic approaches focusing on microRNA and ROS in colorectal cancer treatment is also delineated. This review aims to summarize the newest knowledge on the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer in the hopes of discovering novel diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic techniques.

Keywords: ROS; colorectal cancer; free radicals; microRNA; therapeutic targets.

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

No conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise, are declared by the authors.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Schematic illustrating the oncogenic effect regulated by miR-31, miR-21, and miR-106a in colorectal cancer
Abbreviations: PDCD4, programmed cell death 4; PTEN, phosphatase and tensin homologue; RASA1, RAS p21 GTPase activating protein 1; RB1, retinoblastoma 1; Rho B, Ras Homolog Family Member B; TGFβR2, transforming growth factor β receptor 2.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Schematic illustrating the tumor suppression effect regulated by miR-143 and miR-145 in colorectal cancer
Abbreviations: DNMT3A, DNA methyltransferases 3A; DFF45, DNA fragmentation factor-45; IGF-IR, insulin-like growth factor-I receptor; IRS1, insulin receptor substrate-1; KRAS, Ki-ras2 Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog; MACC1, metastasis-associated in colon cancer-1; p70S6K1, phosphorylated 70-kDa ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1; PAK4, p-21 activated kinase 4.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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