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MicroRNA in Metabolic Re-Programming and Their Role in Tumorigenesis

Marco Tomasetti1, Monica Amati2, Lory Santarelli3

  • 1Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona 60020, Italy. m.tomasetti@univpm.it.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|May 24, 2016
PubMed

Insights

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of metabolic reprogramming in cancer. Deregulation of these microRNAs plays a critical role in tumor development and progression, suggesting their potential as cancer biomarkers.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Metabolic reprogramming is a hallmark of cancer, driven by oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes.
  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are crucial regulators of gene expression, influencing metabolic pathways.
  • Aberrant miRNA expression is frequently observed in cancer, contributing to tumorigenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the role of miRNAs in oncogenic metabolic reprogramming.
  • To understand how miRNA modulation contributes to cancer initiation, promotion, and progression.
  • To explore the potential of miRNAs as cancer biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on miRNA regulation of cancer metabolism.
  • Analysis of the interplay between oncogenic transformation, metabolic changes, and miRNA deregulation.
  • Examination of miRNA involvement in key cancer processes like apoptosis evasion, angiogenesis, and metastasis.

Main Results:

  • miRNAs critically regulate metabolic reprogramming linked to oncogene activation and tumor suppressor gene suppression.
  • The interplay between metabolic reprogramming and aberrant miRNAs creates a pro-tumorigenic microenvironment.
  • miRNAs orchestrate cancer progression by influencing apoptosis evasion, angiogenesis, invasion, migration, and metastasis.

Conclusions:

  • miRNAs are deeply involved in the initiation, promotion, and progression of cancer.
  • Global deregulation of miRNAs in cancer highlights their significance.
  • miRNAs hold promise as valuable biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and therapeutic strategies.
Keywords:
metabolic reprogrammingmiR-126 and cancer-stroma environmentmiRNA regulating signaling pathwaysmiRNAstumorigenesis

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