Export of microRNAs: A Bridge between Breast Carcinoma and Their Neighboring Cells

Abstract

Breast cancer is a leading type of cancer among women in India as well as worldwide. According to the WHO 2015 report, it has been anticipated that there would be a twofold rise in the death due to breast cancer among women. The heterogeneous property of breast carcinoma has been suggested to be linked with dedicated set of communication and signaling pathway with their surroundings, which culminate into progression and development of the cancer. Among the plethora of communication tools in the hand of breast carcinoma cells is the recently appreciated exocytosis of the tightly packed short non-coding RNA molecules, predominantly the microRNAs (miRNAs). Recent studies suggest that miRNAs may work as courier messengers to participate in endocrine and paracrine signaling to facilitate information transfer between breast carcinoma and their neighboring cells. Evidence suggests that breast tumor cells communicate via packaged miRNAs in the tumor-released microvesicles, which enrich the tumor microenvironment. There is a strong view that dissecting out the mechanistic and regulatory aspects of miRNA export and role may uncover many prospects for overcoming the signaling defects and thereby controlling aberrant cell division. The detection of circulating miRNAs associated with breast carcinoma can also be used as biomarkers for early diagnosis. This review article is an attempt to provide updated knowledge on implications of short RNAs and their transport in the breast cancer pathophysiology.

MicroRNA‑424 serves an anti‑oncogenic role by targeting cyclin‑dependent kinase�1 in breast cancer cells

“…As a type of potential regulator, miRNAs serve a key role in tumorigenesis and the progression of breast cancer ( 14 ). They participate in numerous different biological processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation, invasion, migration and transcription.…”

“…miRNA-based therapies have already been used as vital strategies for breast cancer treatment ( 18 ). Additionally, it has been reported that several miRNAs participated in cell tumorigenesis and metastasis ( 19 ). The overexpression of anti-oncogenic miRNAs could therefore be a novel therapeutic approach for breast cancer treatment ( 20 – 22 ).…”

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“…MicroRNAs are small single-stranded non-coding RNAs (19–22 nucleotides in length) that play important regulatory roles, including lung carcinogenesis ( 46 – 50 ). Nadal et al performed microRNA profiling of adenocarcinomas subclassified by the 2015 WHO classification ( 51 ).…”

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“…In a recent report, the notion that BCSCs may show a distinct miRNA expression profile compared to non‐tumorigenic breast cancer cells is widely accepted . These deregulated miRNAs may act as on comiRNAs or as tumor suppressive miRNAs towards self‐renewal, EMT, or stem cell identity maintenance of BCSC community . Besides, potential miRNAs may be involved in increased chemotherapeutic resistance of BCSCs …”