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Review
. 2023 Jun 29;14(7):1375.
doi: 10.3390/genes14071375.

miRNAs: Potential as Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets for Cancer

Atonu Chakrabortty  1 , Daniel J Patton  1 , Bruce F Smith  1   2 , Payal Agarwal  1   2
Affiliations
Review

miRNAs: Potential as Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets for Cancer

Atonu Chakrabortty et al. Genes (Basel). .

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are single-stranded, non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally by binding to messenger RNAs. miRNAs are important regulators of gene expression, and their dysregulation is implicated in many human and canine diseases. Most cancers tested to date have been shown to express altered miRNA levels, which indicates their potential importance in the oncogenic process. Based on this evidence, numerous miRNAs have been suggested as potential cancer biomarkers for both diagnosis and prognosis. miRNA-based therapies have also been tested in different cancers and have provided measurable clinical benefits to patients. In addition, understanding miRNA biogenesis and regulatory mechanisms in cancer can provide important knowledge about resistance to chemotherapies, leading to more personalized cancer treatment. In this review, we comprehensively summarized the importance of miRNA in human and canine cancer research. We discussed the current state of development and potential for the miRNA as both a diagnostic marker and a therapeutic target.

Keywords: biomarker; cancer; miRNAs; oncomiRs; therapeutics; tumor-suppressor miRNAs.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
miRNAs can be classified as oncomiRs and tumor suppressors. (A) OncomiRs suppress tumor-suppressor gene translation and promote tumor cell growth through constitutive overexpression. (B) Tumor-suppressor miRNAs inhibit tumorigenesis and subsequent cancer development by suppressing the translation of mRNAs that encode for oncogenes. (C) Hallmarks of carcinogenesis. This figure was created using Biorender.
Figure 2
Figure 2
MiRNAs as cancer biomarkers: potential clinical applications. miRNAs are isolated from tumor tissue, saliva, blood, plasma, serum, etc., and then profiled for miRNA expression. miRNA profiling helps in cancer diagnosis, cancer staging, and therapeutics. This figure was created using Biorender.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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