microRNA Therapeutics in Cancer — An Emerging Concept
Maitri Y. Shah,
Alessandra Ferrajoli,
Anil K Sood,
Gabriel Lopez-Berestein,
George A. Calin
Affiliations
Maitri Y. Shah
Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
Alessandra Ferrajoli
Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
Anil K Sood
Department of Gynecologic Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA and Center for RNA Interference and Non-Coding RNAs, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
Gabriel Lopez-Berestein
Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA and Center for RNA Interference and Non-Coding RNAs, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
George A. Calin
Departments of Experimental Therapeutics and Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA and Center for RNA Interference and Non-Coding RNAs, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are an evolutionarily conserved class of small, regulatory non-coding RNAs that negatively regulate protein coding gene and other non-coding transcripts expression. miRNAs have been established as master regulators of cellular processes, and they play a vital role in tumor initiation, progression and metastasis. Further, widespread deregulation of microRNAs have been reported in several cancers, with several microRNAs playing oncogenic and tumor suppressive roles. Based on these, miRNAs have emerged as promising therapeutic tools for cancer management. In this review, we have focused on the roles of miRNAs in tumorigenesis, the miRNA-based therapeutic strategies currently being evaluated for use in cancer, and the advantages and current challenges to their use in the clinic.
