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Review
. 2021 Sep 6:11:700853.
doi: 10.3389/fonc.2021.700853. eCollection 2021.

Biological Role and Clinical Implications of microRNAs in BRCA Mutation Carriers

Chiara Tommasi  1   2   3 , Benedetta Pellegrino  1   2   3 , Daniela Boggiani  1   3 , Angelica Sikokis  1   3 , Maria Michiara  1 , Vera Uliana  4 , Beatrice Bortesi  1   3 , Francesco Bonatti  1 , Paola Mozzoni  2 , Silvana Pinelli  2 , Anna Squadrilli  1 , Maria Vittoria Viani  5 , Diana Cassi  6 , Giuseppe Maglietta  3   7 , Marco Meleti  5 , Antonino Musolino  1   2   3
Affiliations
Review

Biological Role and Clinical Implications of microRNAs in BRCA Mutation Carriers

Chiara Tommasi et al. Front Oncol. .

Abstract

Women with pathogenic germline mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes have an increased risk to develop breast and ovarian cancer. There is, however, a high interpersonal variability in the modality and timing of tumor onset in those subjects, thus suggesting a potential role of other individual's genetic, epigenetic, and environmental risk factors in modulating the penetrance of BRCA mutations. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that can modulate the expression of several genes involved in cancer initiation and progression. MiRNAs are dysregulated at all stages of breast cancer and although they are accessible and evaluable, a standardized method for miRNA assessment is needed to ensure comparable data analysis and accuracy of results. The aim of this review was to highlight the role of miRNAs as potential biological markers for BRCA mutation carriers. In particular, biological and clinical implications of a link between lifestyle and nutritional modifiable factors, miRNA expression and germline BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations are discussed with the knowledge of the best available scientific evidence.

Keywords: BRCA1/2 mutations; breast cancer; breast cancer risk; miRNAs; nutriepigenomics.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Mechanistic insights of the interaction of miRNAs with BRCA genes.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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