Role of phytochemicals in the modulation of miRNA expression in cancer

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Trishna Debnath1, Narayan Chandra Deb Nath, Eun-Kyung Kim

  • 1Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Dongguk University-Seoul, 32 Dongguk-ro, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang, Korea. kwglee@dongguk.edu.

Food & Function
|August 8, 2017
PubMed

Insights

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate cancer development and metastasis. Phytochemicals modulate miRNA expression, offering potential to suppress tumors, prevent metastasis, and enhance drug sensitivity in cancer therapy.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are crucial non-coding RNAs involved in normal physiological processes.
  • Dysregulated miRNAs are implicated in cancer initiation, progression, metastasis, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the roles of tumor-suppressing and oncogenic miRNAs in cancer.
  • To explore the mechanisms of miRNA action in cancer.
  • To discuss the impact of phytochemicals on miRNA expression and their therapeutic potential in cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on miRNAs, cancer, EMT, and phytochemicals.
  • Analysis of miRNA functions (oncogenic vs. tumor-suppressing).
  • Examination of phytochemicals' influence on miRNA expression patterns.

Main Results:

  • miRNAs are key regulators in cancer development, progression, and metastasis.
  • Phytochemicals can modulate miRNA expression, affecting oncogenes, tumor suppressors, and cancer-related proteins.
  • Modulation of miRNAs by phytochemicals shows potential in suppressing tumors, preventing metastasis, reversing EMT, and improving drug sensitivity.

Conclusions:

  • Phytochemicals represent a promising avenue for cancer therapy through miRNA modulation.
  • Targeting miRNA pathways with phytonutrients could offer novel strategies for cancer treatment.
  • Further research into phytochemical-miRNA interactions is warranted for clinical applications.

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