Micro-RNAs as clinical biomarkers and therapeutic targets in breast cancer: Quo vadis?

Figure 1 Dysregulation of micro-RNAs in breast cancer pathogenesis. The downregulated/tumor suppressive micro-RNAs (miRNAs) exert decreased inhibition on putative oncogenes in breast cancer (BC). The upregulated/oncogenic miRNAs show enhanced inhibition on tumor suppressors. These mechanisms may lead to increased oncogene-induced gene and decreased tumor suppressor-mediated transcription respectively. Both mechanisms lead to aberrant gene expression that play a significant role in BC predisposition, initiation, cell proliferation, resistance to apoptosis, invasion, angiogenesis, inflammation and metastasis in BC cells. RISC: RNA-induced silencing complex.