Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 19, 2026

MicroRNA Amplification and Recognition through Locked-nucleic-acid In situ Hybridization as a Novel Detection and Quantification Method
09:06

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

Published on: October 7, 2025

435

MicroRNAs Change the Landscape of Cancer Resistance

Jun Zhu1, Wei Zhu2, Wei Wu3

  • 1Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, 42 Baiziting, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, China. zhujdr@126.com.

Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|November 1, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Drug resistance poses a major challenge in cancer treatment, limiting the effectiveness of therapies. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are implicated in resistance, offering potential targets for new individualized cancer treatments.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Drug resistance is a significant obstacle in cancer therapy, reducing treatment efficacy.
  • Understanding resistance mechanisms is crucial for developing improved cancer treatments.
  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are increasingly recognized for their role in mediating treatment resistance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the development of drug resistance across various cancer treatments.
  • To highlight the potential of miRNAs as therapeutic targets for overcoming cancer drug resistance.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on microRNA function and their involvement in cancer treatment resistance.
  • Analysis of miRNA-mediated gene regulation pathways impacting cancer cell sensitivity to therapies.

Main Results:

  • Dysregulation of specific miRNAs is associated with acquired resistance to conventional chemotherapy, targeted therapies, and immunotherapy.
  • miRNAs regulate gene expression by targeting messenger RNAs (mRNAs), influencing translational repression or degradation.
  • A single miRNA can affect numerous targets, and a single target can be modulated by multiple miRNAs.

Conclusions:

  • MicroRNA dysregulation is a key factor in cancer treatment resistance.
  • Targeting miRNAs presents a promising strategy for developing novel, individualized cancer therapies.
  • Reprogramming miRNA networks may enhance cancer cell sensitivity and improve treatment outcomes.
Keywords:
Cancer resistanceDrug persistent cellsEpigenomeMicroRNAsResidual disease

More Related Videos

Analysis of Combinatorial miRNA Treatments to Regulate Cell Cycle and Angiogenesis11:44

Analysis of Combinatorial miRNA Treatments to Regulate Cell Cycle and Angiogenesis

Published on: March 30, 2019

8.1K
Genome-wide Screen for miRNA Targets Using the MISSION Target ID Library08:40

Genome-wide Screen for miRNA Targets Using the MISSION Target ID Library

Published on: April 6, 2012

18.1K

Related Concept Videos

MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns (non-coding regions of a gene) or intergenic regions (stretches of DNA present between genes). Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself, forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA...
4.1K
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns—non-coding regions of a gene—or intergenic regions—stretches of DNA present between genes. Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After...
24.3K
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
4.9K
Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells02:53

Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells

Cancer cells accumulate genetic changes at an abnormally rapid rate due to the defects in the DNA repair mechanisms. From an evolutionary perspective, such genetic instability is advantageous for cancer development. Mutant cell lines accumulate a series of beneficial mutations that contribute to their progression into cancer.
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
7.2K
Treatment Resistant Cancers02:56

Treatment Resistant Cancers

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. A cancer cell is genetically unstable and hence can mutate faster. They can also modify their microenvironment and escape immune surveillance. The difficulties in treating cancer are further compounded by the emergence of rapid resistance to anticancer drugs. The most common ways to attain resistance in cancer cells include alteration in drug transport and metabolism, modification of drug target, elevated DNA damage response, or...
3.8K
Abnormal Proliferation02:23

Abnormal Proliferation

Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the...
5.3K