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Using microRNA Networks to Understand Cancer

Mihnea Dragomir1,2,3, Ana Carolina P Mafra4,5,6, Sandra M G Dias7,8

  • 1Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd. Unit 1950, Houston, TX 77030, USA. mihnea.p.dragomir@gmail.com.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|June 29, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Analyzing microRNA (miRNA) networks in cancer is crucial due to complex interactions. Network analysis offers a powerful approach to understand miRNA roles and identify therapeutic targets in human cancers.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Bioinformatics

Background:

  • Human cancers exhibit deregulated microRNA (miRNA) expression, impacting tumorigenesis.
  • miRNAs interact with numerous messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and other non-coding RNAs (circRNAs, lncRNAs), creating complex regulatory networks.
  • Studying individual miRNAs is challenging due to these intricate connections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review network analysis approaches for studying miRNA function in cancer.
  • To highlight the importance of network analysis over single-miRNA studies.
  • To discuss the potential of network analysis in identifying therapeutic miRNA targets.

Main Methods:

  • Focus on network analysis, including monopartite, association, and bipartite networks.
  • Illustrate network generation steps with published examples.
  • Discuss future perspectives of network-based approaches.

Main Results:

  • Network analysis provides a comprehensive view of miRNA interactions.
  • It helps overcome the limitations of studying single miRNA molecules.
  • Published examples demonstrate the utility of network approaches.

Conclusions:

  • Network analysis is a valuable tool for understanding complex miRNA regulatory systems in cancer.
  • This approach can significantly aid in selecting effective miRNA-based cancer therapies.
Keywords:
gene regulatory networksmicroRNAsmolecular targeted therapyneoplasms

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