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Published on: October 7, 2025

Role of microRNA in anticancer drug resistance

Tongsen Zheng1, Jiabei Wang, Xi Chen

  • 1Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, China.

International Journal of Cancer
|July 28, 2009
PubMed

Insights

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small molecules that play a role in cancer drug resistance. Understanding miRNA roles may lead to new therapies to overcome chemotherapy resistance.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Chemotherapy is a cornerstone of cancer treatment, but drug resistance remains a significant clinical challenge.
  • Mechanisms of anticancer drug resistance are complex and not fully understood.
  • Noncoding RNAs, particularly microRNAs (miRNAs), are increasingly recognized for their roles in cancer development and progression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the involvement of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the development of anticancer drug resistance.
  • To highlight the potential of miRNAs as therapeutic targets for overcoming drug resistance.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent scientific literature on noncoding RNAs and cancer drug resistance.
  • Analysis of the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in post-transcriptional gene regulation.
  • Correlation of miRNA expression profiling with the development of drug resistance.

Main Results:

  • MicroRNA (miRNA) alterations are implicated in the initiation and progression of human cancers.
  • Specific miRNAs are involved in mediating resistance to anticancer drugs.
  • MicroRNA expression patterns correlate with the development of anticancer drug resistance.

Conclusions:

  • MicroRNA-mediated resistance represents an additional mechanism contributing to overall drug resistance in cancer.
  • Targeting microRNAs (miRNAs) offers a promising strategy for developing novel therapeutic approaches to overcome chemotherapy resistance.
  • Further research into miRNA functions is crucial for advancing cancer treatment.

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