Repertoires of MicroRNA-30 family as gate-keepers in lung cancer

Abstract

Lung cancer is a prominent global health issue responsible for the highest fraction of cancer-related mortality. The disease burden has incited the investigation of associated molecular pathways, to explore better therapeutic possibilities. MicroRNAs are extensively studied in recent years for their pivotal role in the regulation of several tumorigenic pathways. MicroRNA-30 (miR-30) family is primarily investigated in case of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and has been found to play the role of a tumour suppressor. There are six members of miR-30 family: miR-30a, miR-30b, miR-30c-1, miR-30c-2, miR-30d and miR-30e. They regulate several imperative signalling pathways like p53, PI3K/AKT, resulting in the modulation of key carcinogenic events involving cell proliferation, apoptosis, metastasis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and drug resistance. Their altered levels are documented in NSCLC tissue and blood samples. They are suggested as biomarkers of disease progression and therapeutic outcomes in lung cancer. They possess immense therapeutic potential in the treatment of lung cancer and combat the emerging problem of drug resistance by modulating prime regulatory axes. However, there are many limitations in the existing studies, and additional research is required for the comprehensive understanding of pathways so that the tumour suppressive potential of miR-30 can be translated into clinical benefits. In this review, we present a deeper understanding of the regulatory role and clinical significance of miR-30 and have emphasized the emerging roles in lung cancer.

Keywords

• lung cancer
• mir-30 family
• biomarker
• therapeutic potential
• signalling pathway
• tumour-suppressor