miR‑324‑5p in oncology: Molecular mechanisms and clinical outlook (Review)

MicroRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) represent a class of regulatory non‑coding RNAs that control post‑transcriptional gene expression and influence multiple cancer‑associated biological processes. Among these molecules, miR‑324‑5p exhibits cancer type‑dependent functions, displaying tumor‑suppressive activity in certain types of malignancy while promoting oncogenic phenotypes in others. The molecular basis responsible for these opposing effects remains to be fully clarified. The present review summarizes evidence and integrates pan‑cancer analyses from The Cancer Genome Atlas to characterize the molecular mechanisms of miR‑324‑5p across different types of malignancies, with emphasis on experimental findings from animal models investigating tumor growth and metastasis. The clinical relevance of miR‑324‑5p, including its diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic implications, is also discussed, together with challenges limiting clinical translation, particularly tumor‑specific delivery strategies and in vivo stability. Further elucidation of the molecular contexts governing miR‑324‑5p activity may facilitate its application in precision oncology.