Breast Cancer Drug Resistance: Overcoming the Challenge by Capitalizing on MicroRNA and Tumor Microenvironment...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Molecular Biology
• Cancer Research

Background:

• Breast cancer treatment faces challenges due to high rates of drug resistance, particularly in HER2-positive and triple-negative breast cancer.
• The tumor microenvironment (TME), including cancer-associated stromal cells, significantly contributes to tumor progression and therapeutic resistance.
• MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are implicated in the complex crosstalk between tumor and stromal cells, influencing the TME.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent literature on the role of miRNAs in the crosstalk between tumor and stromal cells.
• To explore how miRNAs modulate TME characteristics and impact drug resistance in breast cancer.
• To identify the potential of TME-resident miRNAs as therapeutic targets or biomarkers.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of recent scientific publications.
• Analysis of studies investigating miRNA involvement in tumor-stroma interactions.
• Synthesis of findings on miRNA-mediated modulation of the TME and drug resistance.

Main Results:

• MicroRNAs are actively involved in the communication between tumor and stromal cells.
• These miRNAs can induce pro-tumoral traits in stromal cells and enhance tumor aggressiveness.
• MicroRNAs within the TME influence therapy response and tumor progression.

Conclusions:

• MicroRNAs in the TME play a critical role in modulating tumor-stroma interactions and influencing breast cancer drug resistance.
• These miRNAs hold potential for reversing malignant stromal cell phenotypes and improving therapeutic responses.
• TME-associated miRNAs may serve as valuable predictive or prognostic biomarkers for breast cancer treatment.