MicroRNAs: A Link between Mammary Gland Development and Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is among the most common cancers in women, second to skin cancer. Mammary gland development can influence breast cancer development in later life. Processes such as proliferation, invasion, and migration during mammary gland development can often mirror processes found in breast cancer. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), small, non-coding RNAs, can repress post-transcriptional RNA expression and can regulate up to 80% of all genes. Expression of miRNAs play a key role in mammary gland development, and aberrant expression can initiate or promote breast cancer. Here, we review the role of miRNAs in mammary development and breast cancer, and potential parallel roles. A total of 32 miRNAs were found to be expressed in both mammary gland development and breast cancer. These miRNAs are involved in proliferation, metastasis, invasion, and apoptosis in both processes. Some miRNAs were found to have contradictory roles, possibly due to their ability to target many genes at once. Investigation of miRNAs and their role in mammary gland development may inform about their role in breast cancer. In particular, by studying miRNA in development, mechanisms and potential targets for breast cancer treatment may be elucidated.