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Review
. 2022 Jun 4;10(1):40.
doi: 10.1186/s40364-022-00382-4.

MicroRNAs as the critical regulators of cell migration and invasion in thyroid cancer

Amir Abbas Hamidi  1 , Negin Taghehchian  2 , Zahra Basirat  3 , Amir Sadra Zangouei  1 , Meysam Moghbeli  4   5
Affiliations
Review

MicroRNAs as the critical regulators of cell migration and invasion in thyroid cancer

Amir Abbas Hamidi et al. Biomark Res. .

Abstract

Thyroid cancer (TC) is one of the most frequent endocrine malignancies that is more common among females. Tumor recurrence is one of the most important clinical manifestations in differentiated TC which is associated with different factors including age, tumor size, and histological features. Various molecular processes such as genetic or epigenetic modifications and non-coding RNAs are also involved in TC progression and metastasis. The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is an important biological process during tumor invasion and migration that affects the initiation and transformation of early-stage tumors into invasive malignancies. A combination of transcription factors, growth factors, signaling pathways, and epigenetic regulations affect the thyroid cell migration and EMT process. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important molecular factors involved in tumor metastasis by regulation of EMT-activating signaling pathways. Various miRNAs are involved in the signaling pathways associated with TC metastasis which can be used as diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers. Since, the miRNAs are sensitive, specific, and non-invasive, they can be suggested as efficient and optimal biomarkers of tumor invasion and metastasis. In the present review, we have summarized all of the miRNAs which have been significantly involved in thyroid tumor cells migration and invasion. We also categorized all of the reported miRNAs based on their cellular processes to clarify the molecular role of miRNAs during thyroid tumor cell migration and invasion. This review paves the way of introducing a non-invasive diagnostic and prognostic panel of miRNAs in aggressive and metastatic TC patients.

Keywords: Invasion; Metastasis; Migration; Panel marker; Thyroid cancer; miRNA.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Role of miRNAs in thyroid tumor cell migration via regulation of PI3K/AKT and chemokine signaling pathways. (Created with BioRender.com)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Role of miRNAs in thyroid tumor cell migration via regulation of WNT signaling pathway. (Created with BioRender.com)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Role of miRNAs in thyroid tumor cell migration by regulation of TGFβ and cytokine signaling pathways. (Created with BioRender.com)
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Role of miRNAs in thyroid tumor cell migration and EMT by regulation of transcription factors. (Created with BioRender.com)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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