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Therapeutically Significant MicroRNAs in Primary and Metastatic Brain Malignancies

Akilandeswari A Balachandran1,2, Leon M Larcher1, Suxiang Chen1,2

  • 1Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia.

Cancers
|September 10, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Brain cancer, including glioblastoma and brain metastasis, has poor survival rates. Ten microRNAs (miRNAs) show differential expression, impacting cancer progression and offering potential therapeutic targets.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Brain cancers, such as glioblastoma and brain metastasis, are rare but aggressive with high mortality rates.
  • Poor prognosis is linked to tumor heterogeneity, relapse, and therapy resistance, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies.
  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of gene expression with significant roles in various cancers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the differential expression of ten specific miRNAs in glioblastoma and brain metastasis.
  • To understand the dual oncogenic and tumor-suppressive roles of these miRNAs in the tumor microenvironment.
  • To highlight the potential of miRNAs as therapeutic targets for improving brain cancer outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on studies investigating miRNA expression in brain tumors.
  • Analysis of differential expression patterns of ten selected miRNAs (miR-145, miR-31, miR-451, miR-19a, miR-143, miR-125b, miR-328, miR-210, miR-146a, miR-126).
  • Discussion of miRNA roles within the tumor microenvironment and their impact on gene expression.

Main Results:

  • Ten specific miRNAs are significantly dysregulated in both primary glioblastoma and metastatic brain tumors.
  • These miRNAs exhibit context-dependent roles, acting as either oncogenes or tumor suppressors.
  • Dysregulation of these miRNAs is implicated in the aggressive nature and poor prognosis of brain cancers.

Conclusions:

  • The ten reviewed miRNAs are crucial players in brain cancer development and progression.
  • Understanding their complex roles is essential for developing effective miRNA-based therapies.
  • Targeting these dysregulated miRNAs holds promise for improving survival rates in brain cancer patients.
Keywords:
brain cancercancer metastasisglioblastomagliomamiRNA

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