Treating cancer with microRNA replacement therapy: A literature review

microRNAs (miRNAs) are small non‐coding RNAs that regulate gene expression post‐transcriptionally by interfering with the translation of one or more target mRNAs. The unique miRNA sequences are involved in many physiological and pathological processes. Dysregulation of miRNAs contributes to the path...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of cellular physiology 2018-08, Vol.233 (8), p.5574-5588
Main Authors: Hosseinahli, Nayer, Aghapour, Mahyar, Duijf, Pascal H. G., Baradaran, Behzad
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cancer
Cancer therapies
Epigenetics
Expression vectors
Gene expression
Gene therapy
Literature reviews
Metastases
microRNA
miRNA
Pathogenesis
Plasmids
Recovery of function
replacement therapy
Reviews
Ribonucleic acid
RNA
Transcription
Tumor cells
Tumor suppressor genes
Tumors
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Summary:microRNAs (miRNAs) are small non‐coding RNAs that regulate gene expression post‐transcriptionally by interfering with the translation of one or more target mRNAs. The unique miRNA sequences are involved in many physiological and pathological processes. Dysregulation of miRNAs contributes to the pathogenesis of all types of cancer. Notably, the diminished expression of tumor suppressor miRNAs, such as members of the Let‐7 and miR‐34 family, promotes tumor progression, invasion and metastasis. The past lustrum in particular, has witnessed substantial improvement of miRNA replacement therapy. This approach aims to restore tumor suppressor miRNA function in tumor cells using synthetic miRNA mimics or miRNA expression plasmids. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of recent advances in miRNA replacement therapy for treatment of cancer and its advantages over conventional gene therapy. We discuss a wide variety of delivery methods and vectors, as well as obstacles that remain to be overcome. Lastly, we review efforts to reverse epigenetic alterations, which affect miRNA expression in cancer cells, and the promising observation that restoring miRNA function re‐sensitizes resistant tumor cells to chemotherapeutic drugs. The fact that various miRNA replacement therapies are currently in clinical trial demonstrates the great potential of this approach to treat cancer. Recent advances in microRNA replacement therapy in cancers.
ISSN:0021-9541
1097-4652
DOI:10.1002/jcp.26514