The role of microRNA-21 (miR-21) in pathogenesis, diagnosis, and prognosis of gastrointestinal cancers: A review

• Published in: Life sciences (1973) 2023-03, Vol.316, p.121340-121340, Article 121340
• Main Authors: Farasati Far, Bahareh, Vakili, Kimia, Fathi, Mobina, Yaghoobpoor, Shirin, Bhia, Mohammed, Naimi- Jamal, M. Reza
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins - metabolism; Biomarkers, Tumor - genetics; Biomarkers, Tumor - metabolism; Colorectal cancer; Diagnostic biomarker; Esophageal cancer; Gastric cancer; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; MicroRNAs - metabolism; miR-21; Pancreatic cancer; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases - metabolism; Prognostic biomarker; Quality of Life; RNA, Messenger; RNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism; Stomach Neoplasms - pathology
• ISSN: 0024-3205; 1879-0631
• DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2022.121340

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs regulating the expression of several target genes. miRNAs play a significant role in cancer biology, as they can downregulate their corresponding target genes by impeding the translation of mRNA (at the mRNA level) as well as degrading mRNAs by binding to the 3′-untranslated (UTR) regions (at the protein level). miRNAs may be employed as cancer biomarkers. Therefore, miRNAs are widely investigated for early detection of cancers which can lead to improved survival rates and quality of life. This is particularly important in the case of gastrointestinal cancers, where early detection of the disease could substantially impact patients' survival. MicroRNA-21 (miR-21 or miRNA-21) is one of the most frequently researched miRNAs, where it is involved in the pathophysiology of cancer and the downregulation of several tumor suppressor genes. In gastrointestinal cancers, miR-21 regulates phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4), mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 7 (SMAD7), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase /protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT), matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), β-catenin, tropomyosin 1, maspin, and ras homolog gene family member B (RHOB). In this review, we investigate the functions of miR-21 in pathogenesis and its applications as a diagnostic and prognostic cancer biomarker in four different gastrointestinal cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC), pancreatic cancer (PC), gastric cancer (GC), and esophageal cancer (EC). [Display omitted] •miR-21 promotes pathogenesis and cancer progression in gastrointestinal cancers.•miR-21 regulates PTEN, PDCD4, SMAD7, and PI3K/AKT in gastrointestinal cancers.•miR-21 can be used as diagnostic biomarker in gastrointestinal cancers.•miR-21 can be employed for the prognosis of gastrointestinal cancers' patients.