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World J Clin Oncol. May 10, 2014; 5(2): 48-60
Published online May 10, 2014. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v5.i2.48
MicroRNAs in pathogenesis of breast cancer: Implications in diagnosis and treatment
Nirav R Shah, Hexin Chen
Nirav R Shah, Hexin Chen, Department of Biological Science, Center for Colon Cancer Research, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, United States
Author contributions: All the authors contributed equally for writing this manuscript.
Supported by In part supported by the American Cancer Society Research Award, No. RSG-10-067-01-TBE; and NIH grant to Chen H, No. 1R01CA178386
Correspondence to: Hexin Chen, PhD, Department of Biological Science, Center for Colon Cancer Research, University of South Carolina, 715 Sumter Street, PSC-621, Columbia, SC 29208, United States. hchen@biol.sc.edu
Telephone: +1-803-7772928 Fax: +1-803-7774002
Received: December 27, 2013
Revised: January 23, 2014
Accepted: April 16, 2014
Published online: May 10, 2014
Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs generated by a two-step complex process and are post transcriptional negative regulators of their target mRNAs. Dysregulation of many of these miRNAs has been associated with tumorigenesis in various cancers including breast cancer. Aberrantly high expression of specific miRNAs in breast cancer cells is demonstrated to be linked with inhibition of tumor suppressor genes and promote tumorigenesis. They are classified as oncogenic miRNAs. However, the tumor suppressor miRNAs are downregulated in breast cancer cells, since their major targets are oncogenic mRNAs. Understanding mechanism of action of specific miRNAs in breast cancer cells can be utilized to develop newer anti-cancer therapies. Recently, newer techniques are also developed to detect abundance of specific miRNA in the blood plasma samples and can be used in early diagnosis or prognosis in breast cancer. In this review article, we have discussed several miRNAs dysregulated in breast cancer and their therapeutic potential.

Keywords: MicroRNAs, Breast cancer, Cancer stem cells, Diagnostic markers, Drug resistance

Core tip: A comprehensive review about the functions and molecular mechanisms of dysregulated microRNAs in breast cancer and their implications in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.