Tiny miRNAs Play a Big Role in the Treatment of Breast Cancer Metastasis

Abstract

Distant organ metastases accounts for the majority of breast cancer deaths. Given the prevalence of breast cancer in women, it is imperative to understand the underlying mechanisms of its metastatic progression and identify potential targets for therapy. Since their discovery in 1993, microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as important regulators of tumour progression and metastasis in various cancers, playing either oncogenic or tumour suppressor roles. In the following review, we discuss the roles of miRNAs that potentiate four key areas of breast cancer metastasis-angiogenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, the Warburg effect and the tumour microenvironment. We then evaluate the recent developments in miRNA-based therapies in breast cancer, which have shown substantial promise in controlling tumour progression and metastasis. Yet, certain challenges must be overcome before these strategies can be implemented in clinical trials.

Keywords: breast cancer metastasis; breast cancer therapy; microRNA-based therapy; microRNAs.

Figure 1

miRNAs involved in potentiating various stages and events in breast cancer metastasis: (i) angiogenesis, (ii) EMT, migration and invasion, (iii) the Warburg effect, and (iv) the tumour microenvironment.

Figure 2

Metastatic cascade in cancer.

Figure 3

Crosstalk between breast cancer cells and stromal cells in the tumour microenvironment.

Figure 4

Summary of approaches taken in miRNA-based therapies for breast cancer.