MicroRNAs as emerging diagnostic and prognostic marker in cancer biology and therapy

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) contribute to cellular homeostasis and differentiation in many ways, and therefore play an important role in many pathophysiological events. The knowledge of small non-coding RNAmolecules has developed our understanding towards basic processes of cancer biology and the molecular mechanisms underlying tumor initiation and progression. MiRNA research field has grown to be more and more attractive as evidence is emerging that miRNAs possibly play vital regulatory roles in all fundamental biological processes. Notably, as research continues to reveal the mechanisms underlying cancer therapy efficacy, it is apparent that miRNAs contribute to responses to drug therapy and are themselves modified by drug therapy. One important field for miRNA research is to identify functions of miRNAs and the associated signaling pathways in the initiation, progression, metastasis and drug-resistance of tumors in order to propose novel, efficient target based therapeutics that directly target pathologically essential miRNAs and their allied target genes. Currently, miRNA signatures have increasing importance and use in the diagnosis and prognosis of various types of cancers. In this review, we have highlighted the role of various miRNAs in various cancers and other disease so that future of miRNAresearch will provide more interesting outcomes in terms of therapy and cure. JMS 2016; 19(2):47-58