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The Role of Non-Coding RNAs in the Regulation of Oncogenic Pathways in Breast and Gynaecological Cancers

Ammar Ansari1, Aleksandra Szczesnowska1, Natalia Haddad1

  • 1Department of Biomolecular Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University London, Kingston-upon-Thames KT1 2EE, UK.

Non-Coding RNA
|August 27, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) show promise as targeted therapies for female cancers. These molecules act as both oncogenes and tumor suppressors, offering new diagnostic and treatment strategies for breast, ovarian, and cervical cancers.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Female cancers (breast, gynecological) pose a significant global health burden.
  • Current treatments face limitations like drug resistance, side effects, and lack of specificity.
  • There is a critical need for novel, targeted therapeutic strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in regulating key oncogenic pathways in female cancers.
  • To explore the dual functionality of ncRNAs as oncogenes and tumor suppressors.
  • To highlight the potential of ncRNAs for developing new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies investigating ncRNAs in female cancers.
  • Analysis of ncRNA involvement in MAPK, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, Wnt/β-catenin, and p53 pathways.
  • Examination of regulatory interactions and dual functionality of ncRNAs.

Main Results:

  • Non-coding RNAs are implicated in the regulation of major oncogenic pathways in breast, cervical, ovarian, and endometrial cancers.
  • ncRNAs exhibit complex, context-dependent roles, acting as both oncogenes and tumor suppressors.
  • Evidence demonstrates the intricate regulatory networks involving ncRNAs in cancer progression.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding the complex mechanisms of ncRNAs is crucial for advancing female cancer treatment.
  • ncRNAs hold significant potential for the development of targeted therapies and diagnostic tools.
  • Further research into ncRNA functionality can lead to more effective and specific cancer treatments.
Keywords:
MAPK/ERKPI3K/Akt/mTORWnt/β-cateninbreast cancercervical cancerendometrial cancergynaecological cancernon-coding RNAovarian cancerp53signalling pathways

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