MicroRNAs as markers of progression in cervical cancer: a systematic review

Abstract

BackgroundInvasive cervical cancer (ICC) is caused by high-risk human papillomavirus types (HR-HPVs) and is usually preceded by a long phase of intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). Before invasion, (epi) genetic changes, potentially applicable as molecular markers within cervical screening, occur in HPV host cells. Epigenetic alterations, such as dysregulation of microRNA (miRNA) expression, are frequently observed in ICC. The mechanisms and role of miRNA dysregulation in cervical carcinogenesis are still largely unknown.MethodsWe provide an overview of the studies investigating miRNA expression in relation to ICC progression, highlighting their common outcomes and their weaknesses/strengths. To achieve this, we systematically searched through Pubmed database all articles between January 2010 and December 2017.ResultsFrom the 24 studies retrieved, miR-29a and miR-21 are the most frequently down- and up-regulated in ICC progression, respectively. Microarray-based studies show a small overlap, with miR-10a, miR-20b, miR-9, miR-16 and miR-106 found repeatedly dysregulated. miR-34a, miR-125 and miR-375 were also found dysregulated in cervical exfoliated cells in relation to cancer progression.ConclusionsThe pivotal role of miRNAs in ICC progression and initial development is becoming more and more relevant. Available studies are essentially based on convenience material, entailing possible selection bias, and frequently of small size: all these points still represent a limitation to a wide comprehension of miRNAs relevant for ICC. The targeted approach instead of a genome-wide investigation still precludes the identification of all the relevant miRNAs in the process. The implementation of deep sequencing on large scale population-based studies will help to discover and validate the relation between altered miRNA expression and CC progression for the identification of biomarkers. Optimally, once explored on a miRNome scale, small specific miRNA signatures maybe used in the context of screening.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12885-018-4590-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Pathogenic role of exosomes and microRNAs in HPV‐mediated inflammation and cervical cancer: A review

“…Inflammatory mediators cause dysregulation of miRNAs and vice versa certain miRNAs operate as inflammatory mediators. Dysregulation of miRNAs has been observed during CC development and several dysregulated miRNAs have the ability to modulate the initiation and development of inflammation‐induced cervical carcinogenesis …”

“…Dysregulation of miRNAs has been observed during CC development and several dysregulated miRNAs have the ability to modulate the initiation and development of inflammation-induced cervical carcinogenesis. 2,22 Exosomes are nanovesicles about 30-150 nm in size and are released by almost all cell types, under both pathological and physiological conditions. These nanovesicles are involved in intercellular communication at both local and systemic levels.…”

Eliminating Cervical Cancer in Mali and Senegal, Two Sub-Saharan Countries: Insights and Optimizing Solutions

“…Various screening techniques such as visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA), visual inspection with Lugol's iodine, visual inspection with magnification devices-magnavisualizers, Pap smears cytology, HPV DNA testing have shown efficacy (Table 1). New epigenetic tests are based on either the analysis of the DNA methylation of specific genes [21] or the measurement of the relative expression of microRNAs, which can be easily measured by RT-qPCR-based methods [22]. The applicability, advantages, and drawbacks of different screening tests are summarized in Table 1.…”

miR-29a-3p directly targets Smad nuclear interacting protein 1 and inhibits the migration and proliferation of cervical cancer HeLa cells

“…MicroRNAs regulate gene expression mainly through binding to the 3′-untranslated region (UTR) of target mRNAs ( Bartel, 2004 ). As oncogene or tumor suppressor in different cancers, miRNAs play essential roles in basic biological processes such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, migration and invasion ( Bartel, 2004 ; Pardini et al, 2018 ). Accumulating studies have shown that miR-29a was abnormally expressed in various cancers, including cervical cancer ( Pei, Lei & Liu, 2016 ; Yang et al, 2017 ; Gong et al, 2019 ).…”