This SpringerBrief gives the latest research on the role of miRNAs in breast cancer metastasis.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are recently described small endogenous noncoding RNAs implicated in the
posttranscriptional control of gene expression. These tiny molecules are involved in
developmental physiologic phenomenon as well as pathologic processes including cancers. In
fact miRNAs have emerged as critical regulators of cancer progression invasion and
metastasis. This is mainly because a single miRNA can affect several downstream genes and
signaling pathways with oncogenic or tumor suppressor actions depending on the target genes
affected. Due to this multimodal downstream signaling effects these small endogenous molecules
hold great promise in metastasis prevention and treatment. Modulating the activity of miRNAs
can provide opportunities for novel cancer interventions. Targeting miRNAs could become a novel
prognostic and therapeutic strategy to prevent the future development of metastasis. Thus
miRNAs could also serve as a potential targets for anti-metastatic therapy. The book explores
how the expression of miRNAs in the primary tumor could be silenced using antagomirs
(chemically modified anti-miRNA oligonucleotides) which could prevent the development of
metastasis whereas once metastasis develops then it could be treated with miRNA mimics for
inducing its expression for the treatment. Therefore development of miRNA-based prophylactic
therapies could serve as precision and personalized medicine against future development of
metastasis of breast and other cancers.
