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MicroRNA Amplification and Recognition through Locked-nucleic-acid In situ Hybridization as a Novel Detection and Quantification Method
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MicroRNA Amplification and Recognition through Locked-nucleic-acid In situ Hybridization as a Novel Detection and Quantification Method

Published on: October 7, 2025

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Exploring and exploiting the fundamental role of microRNAs in tumor pathogenesis

Qingbao Cheng1, Bin Yi, Aihua Wang

  • 1Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.

Oncotargets and Therapy
|November 26, 2013
PubMed

Insights

MicroRNAs (miRs) are key regulators in cancer, influencing cell death, growth, and spread. This review explores their roles in cancer stem cells, EMT, and the tumor microenvironment for therapeutic potential.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • MicroRNAs (miRs) are short RNA molecules regulating gene expression post-transcriptionally.
  • Emerging research highlights miRs' critical roles in cancer pathogenesis.
  • Understanding miRs is crucial for advancing cancer research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advances in understanding miRs' characteristics and functions in cancer.
  • To evaluate miRs' roles in cancer stem cells (CSCs), epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and the tumor microenvironment (TM).
  • To discuss miRs' potential as therapeutic targets and biomarkers in cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent scientific advances.
  • Synthesis of current knowledge on miR functions in cancer.
  • Evaluation of miRs' impact on key cancer processes.

Main Results:

  • miRs significantly regulate apoptosis, proliferation, invasion, and metastasis in cancer cells.
  • miRs play crucial roles in CSCs, EMT, and the TM, impacting tumor development.
  • miRs are implicated in cancer genesis and progression.

Conclusions:

  • miRs are vital regulators in cancer biology, affecting multiple hallmarks of cancer.
  • miRs demonstrate significant potential as biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and prognosis.
  • miRs offer promising avenues for novel cancer therapies.
Keywords:
cancer stem cellepithelial-mesenchymal transitionmiRNAtumor microenvironment

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