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microRNAs as cancer therapeutics: A step closer to clinical application

Tina Catela Ivkovic1, Gjendine Voss2, Helena Cornella2

  • 1Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Translational Cancer Research, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Division of Molecular Medicine, Laboratory for Personalized Medicine, Ruder Boskovic Institute, Zagreb, Croatia.

Cancer Letters
|April 17, 2017
PubMed

Insights

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) show therapeutic promise for cancer, regulating cellular signaling networks. This review covers their potential and advances in developing miRNA-based cancer therapeutics.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biotechnology

Background:

  • Cancer treatment advances have been made, but complete remission and drug toxicity remain significant clinical challenges.
  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of cellular signaling pathways implicated in cancer development and progression.
  • The regulatory capacity of miRNAs presents a novel avenue for developing targeted cancer therapeutics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review microRNAs (miRNAs) with experimentally validated therapeutic potential in cancer.
  • To discuss recent advancements in the technical development of miRNA-based therapeutic agents.
  • To examine the clinical evaluation of miRNA-based cancer therapies.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of basic and translational research on microRNAs in cancer.
  • Focus on miRNAs with experimentally proven therapeutic efficacy.
  • Analysis of technical developments and clinical trial data for miRNA therapeutics.

Main Results:

  • MicroRNAs demonstrate significant potential as therapeutic targets due to their role in cancer.
  • Advances in delivery systems and stability have improved the feasibility of miRNA-based therapies.
  • Early clinical evaluations show promise, but further research is needed.

Conclusions:

  • MicroRNAs offer a promising strategy to overcome limitations in current cancer treatment, such as incomplete remission and toxicity.
  • Continued research and development in miRNA-based therapeutics are crucial for clinical translation.
  • miRNA-based agents represent a novel frontier in the fight against cancer.

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