The Role of miRNA in the Management of Localized and Advanced Renal Masses, a Narrative Review of the Literature

Abstract

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common form of kidney cancer with 403,262 diagnoses and 170,000 deaths worldwide in 2018. Although partial or radical nephrectomy can be considered a successful treatment in early-stage or localized RCC, in advanced-stage disease, there is a high risk of metastasis or recurrence with a significantly poorer prognosis. Metastatic RCC is generally resistant to both chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and, despite several novel therapeutic agents, disease progression and mortality rates remain high. It is necessary to identify new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for the management of this cancer. Knowledge of microRNA (miRNA) has consistently increased in the last year. miRNAs play an important role in several biological processes, such as cell proliferation, differentiation, and cell death. Due to this, miRNAs have been identified as an important key in different diseases, especially in cancer, and several studies show miRNAs as attractive tools and targets for novel therapeutic approaches. Recently several miRNAs (including miR-22, miR-203, miR-301 and miR-193a-3p) have been linked to dysregulated molecular pathways involved with the proliferation of cancerous cells and resistance to therapeutic agents. In the present study, recent data from studies assessing the application of miRNAs as biomarkers, therapeutic targets, or modulators of response to treatment modalities in RCC patients are analyzed.

Integrated Bioinformatics Analysis for the Identification of Key lncRNAs, mRNAs, and Potential Drugs in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinomas

“…MiRNAs are involved in cell proliferation and death, migration, epithelial–mesenchymal transition, tumor invasion and metastasis, and play an important role in the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of RCC. 21 Cochetti, G et al developed a 7p-urinary score based on urinary miR-122-5p, miR-1271-5p, and miR-15b-5p levels, which is a potential tool for the early diagnosis of ccRCC. 22 , 23 It has been reported that lncRNA is abnormally expressed in renal cell carcinoma, suggesting that it may act as an oncogene or tumor suppressor.…”

MicroRNA-155-5p Targets JADE-1, Promoting Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Cells

“…This is especially true for ccRCC, where miRNAs such as miR-15a [39], miR-21 [40], miR-221 [41] and miR-149-5p [42] have been identified in connection with the disease. In addition, miRNAs have the potential to serve as biomarkers and may help to serve in the management of RCC [43]. Of particular interest is miR-155-5p, which has been explored both in terms of its role in promoting EMT in ccRCC [13,44,45] and its link with poorer patient outcomes [27,46,47].…”

Biomarkers in renal cell carcinoma and their targeted therapies: a review

“…Data revealed that enhanced expression of miR-221, miR-210, and miR-1233 conferred the utmost risk of renal cancer related death. Besides, 13 other miRNA (miR-9-1, miR-9-2, miR-18a, miR-21, miR-130b, miR-146b, miR-149, miR-183, miR-223, miR-335, miR-365-1, miR-365-2, and miR-625) are linked with elevated tumor re-occurrence rates [ 54 ]. Similarly, Huang et al [ 55 ] communicated that miR-223-3p, miR-21-5p, and miR-365a-3p are associated with high re-occurrence rates and worse survival in ccRCC patients.…”