Pleiotropic functions of miR107 in cancer networks

MicroRNAs are short regulatory RNAs that posttranscriptionally modulate gene expression and thus play crucial roles in controlling cancer-onset, growth, and progression processes. miR107, a highly conserved microRNA that maps to intron 5 of the PANK1 gene, contributes to the regulation of normal and tumor biological processes. Studies have reported that miR107 has oncogenic or tumor-suppressor functions in different human tumors. The pleiotropic functions of miR107 in various cancers are achieved via its targeting different genes that are involved in tumor proliferation, invasiveness, metastasis, angiogenesis, and chemotherapy-response pathways. The carcinogenicity or cancer-suppressor effects of miR107 occur in a tissue- and cell-specific manner, and the expression level of miR107 can be affected by various factors, including epigenetic and genetic factors, treatment exposure, and daily diet. A comprehensive analysis of the current literature suggests that miR107 functions as a central element in the regulation of cancer networks and can be used as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker and drug target for therapeutic intervention.