MicroRNAs: Promising New Antiangiogenic Targets in Cancer

Abstract

MicroRNAs are one class of small, endogenous, non-coding RNAs that are approximately 22 nucleotides in length; they are very numerous, have been phylogenetically conserved, and involved in biological processes such as development, differentiation, cell proliferation, and apoptosis. MicroRNAs contribute to modulating the expression levels of specific proteins based on sequence complementarity with their target mRNA molecules and so they play a key role in both health and disease. Angiogenesis is the process of new blood vessel formation from preexisting ones, which is particularly relevant to cancer and its progression. Over the last few years, microRNAs have emerged as critical regulators of signalling pathways in multiple cell types including endothelial and perivascular cells. This review summarises the role of miRNAs in tumour angiogenesis and their potential implications as therapeutic targets in cancer.

Epigenetic Control of the Tumor Microenvironment

“…We will focus on mi-RNAs, short (18-25 base) oligomers encoded in the genome that repress translation of target genes by complexing with mRNAs, leading to inhibition of translation and/or increased mRNA degradation [74], as this subgroup of noncoding RNAs has been significantly studied in stromal cells. A large number of miRNAs have been identified in the human genome and each species of miRNA may have multiple mRNA targets [75]. Many individual miRNA species have been shown to play roles in the regulation of stromal cells of the tumor microenvironment and this subject has recently been reviewed [76][77][78][79].…”

Regulatory role of microRNA184 in osteosarcoma cells

“…MiRNAs are closely associated with tumor occurrence and development. Some miRNAs can promote tumor proliferation and metastasis, whereas others inhibit tumorigenesis (Gallach et al, 2014;Lindner et al, 2015). Previous research showed that miRNAs are abnormally expressed in osteosarcoma, and may function as oncogenes or tumor suppressors.…”

miRNAs: micro-managers of anticancer combination therapies

“…For in-depth discussions, we refer the reader to dedicated reviews [16–19]. miRNAs are highly expressed in EC, and they can regulate most aspects of vascular development and angiogenesis.…”