MicroRNAs and breast cancer malignancy: An overview of miRNA-regulated cancer processes leading to metastasis

Abstract

Cancer statistics show significant diagnosis numbers amongst men and women worldwide, where breast cancer is by far the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women. Multiple mechanisms and molecules have been shown to occupy major roles in cancer progression and aggressivity. Recently, small non-coding RNA molecules, called micro-RNAs, have become the subject of interest in many molecular pathways in relation to breast cancer, amongst many other pathologies. MiRNAs are capable of regulating gene expression in a sequence-specific manner and regulate diverse expression patterns which are dependent on the cell's state and identity. Studies have brought forward specific miRNAs that have the innate ability to govern unique gene expression profiles regulating cancer cell aggressivity. This review will outline recent findings of characterized miRNAs in relation to their molecular targets leading to cancer malignancy and progression. More specifically, we will focus on miRNAs associated with breast cancer metastatic processes including epithelial to mesenchymal and mesenchymal to epithelial transitioning (EMT/MET transition), migration, invasion and angiogenesis.

Biomarkers for EMT and MET in breast cancer: An update

“…It was shown to induce migration and invasion capacities in breast cancer cells via direct targeting of homeobox D10 (HOXD10) transcription (78). miR-10b-mediated suppression of HOXD10 has also been shown to promote the expression of Ras homolog family member C, which leads to cell invasion and migration in the non-metastatic breast cancer cell line SUM149.…”

Associations of miRNA polymorphisms and expression levels with breast cancer risk in the Chinese population

“…It is the leading cause of cancer death in less-developed countries (Majeed et al, 2014;Carter, 2014). Because up to 10% of the total number of women diagnosed with breast cancer report a family history of the disease, microRNAs (miRNAs) may represent a promising new class of potential susceptibility genes (Harquail et al, 2012;Yahya and Elsayed, 2015).…”

Base Excision Repair Manipulation in Breast Carcinoma: A Prospective Avenue to Potentiate Genome Insulting Approach

“…In the perspectives of miRNAs action in cancer pathophysiology, miRNAs are suggested as potentials biomarkers for diagnostic and prognostic approaches in cancer treatment. There is view that therapeutic approaches in the form of bringing down or elevating levels of specific miRNAs by designing anti-sense oligonucleotides or pre-miRNAs may be useful for the cancer therapy [67,68]. In recent, obstacles in the form of highly resisting cancer stem cells are reported in several carcinomas.…”