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Review
. 2024 Jul 23:12:1437951.
doi: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1437951. eCollection 2024.

MicroRNA-21 in urologic cancers: from molecular mechanisms to clinical implications

Lifeng Gan  1   2   3 , Liying Zheng  4 , Junrong Zou  2   3 , Peiyue Luo  1   2   3 , Tao Chen  1   2   3 , Jun Zou  1   2   3 , Wei Li  1   2   3 , Qi Chen  1   2   3 , Le Cheng  1   2   3 , Fangtao Zhang  1   2   3 , Biao Qian  2   3
Affiliations
Review

MicroRNA-21 in urologic cancers: from molecular mechanisms to clinical implications

Lifeng Gan et al. Front Cell Dev Biol. .

Abstract

The three most common kinds of urologic malignancies are prostate, bladder, and kidney cancer, which typically cause substantial morbidity and mortality. Early detection and effective treatment are essential due to their high fatality rates. As a result, there is an urgent need for innovative research to improve the clinical management of patients with urologic cancers. A type of small noncoding RNAs of 22 nucleotides, microRNAs (miRNAs) are well-known for their important roles in a variety of developmental processes. Among these, microRNA-21 (miR-21) stands out as a commonly studied miRNA with implications in tumorigenesis and cancer development, particularly in urological tumors. Recent research has shed light on the dysregulation of miR-21 in urological tumors, offering insights into its potential as a prognostic, diagnostic, and therapeutic tool. This review delves into the pathogenesis of miR-21 in prostate, bladder, and renal cancers, its utility as a cancer biomarker, and the therapeutic possibilities of targeting miR-21.

Keywords: bladder; cancer; kidney; miR-21; prostate; urinary system.

PubMed Disclaimer

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
Schematic diagram of the mechanism of miR-21 in prostate cancer. mUA, Methylated urolithin A; PDCD4, Programmed cell death 4; SREBP-1, Sterol regulatory element binding protein 1; BMPRII, Bone morphogenetic protein receptor II.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Schematic diagram of the mechanism of miR-21 in bladder cancer. GAS5, Growth arrest-specific transcripts 5; PPP2R2A, Protein phosphatase 2 regulatory subunit Balpha.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Schematic diagram of the mechanism of miR-21 in kidney cancer. TIMP3, Metalloproteinases 3; PTEN, Phosphatase and tensin homolog; PDCD4, Programmed cell death 4; HIF-1α, Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α; IncRNA CASC2, Long-stranded non-coding RNA Cancer susceptibility candidate gene 2; Cyclin D1, Cycle protein D1; PRKCE, Encodes protein kinase C ε.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
miR-21 Schematic diagrams related to the treatment of urologic cancers. QH, The combination of chrysin and quercetin; Note: The arrows in this image only indicate pointing action, not direct targeting. The left side of the image indicates that the drugs can affect the action of miR-21 in the tumor, and the right side of the image indicates that miR-21 can affect the sensitivity of the tumor to the drugs.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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