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Crosstalk between miRNA and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in cancer

Maryam Akbarzadeh1, Ainaz Mihanfar1, Shabnam Akbarzadeh2

  • 1Department of biochemistry, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.

Life Sciences
|September 30, 2021
PubMed

Insights

The Phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K)/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is crucial in cancer. This review explores its interactions with microRNAs (miRNAs) and their significance in cancer biology.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • The PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway is a critical regulator of cell proliferation, survival, and metastasis in cancer.
  • Genetic alterations in PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway genes are prevalent in various human cancers.
  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that play significant roles in gene regulation and cancer development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the intricate interactions between the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway and miRNAs.
  • To elucidate the functional significance of these interactions in cancer initiation, progression, and drug resistance.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent studies on PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and miRNAs in cancer.
  • Analysis of genetic alterations and regulatory mechanisms involving key pathway components and miRNAs.
  • Synthesis of evidence on the reciprocal crosstalk between the pathway and miRNAs.

Main Results:

  • The PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway components are frequently dysregulated in cancer, often through genetic mutations.
  • miRNAs can act as tumor suppressors or oncogenes by targeting components of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.
  • Reciprocal interactions exist where pathway activation influences miRNA expression and vice versa, impacting cancer phenotypes.

Conclusions:

  • The interplay between the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and miRNAs is a fundamental aspect of cancer biology.
  • Understanding these interactions offers potential therapeutic strategies targeting both the pathway and miRNAs for cancer treatment.
  • Further research into this crosstalk is essential for developing novel anti-cancer therapies.
Keywords:
AngiogenesisCancerDrug resistanceMetastasisPI3K/AKT/mTORmiRNA

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