BREAST CANCER; A REVIEW ON THE ROLE OF MiRNAs IN DISEASE PROGRESSION AND DRUG RESISTANCE

Abstract

Breast cancer is one among the most common types of cancer in women and is a leading cause of death. Early diagnosis and management of breast cancer has decreased the death rates due to breast cancer. The current treatment strategy for breast cancer combines surgery with radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy and hormonal therapy. However, factors like relapse and drug resistance serve as major challenges in the successful management of this disease. . The recent studies identify the involvement of miRNAs in breast cancer development and drug resistance. MiRNAs are non-coding, single stranded RNAs that are composed of 20-25 nucleotide sequences. MiRNAs binds to the 3’ untranslated areas of the target mRNA and mediate the gene expression at post transcriptional level. The aberrant expression of miRNAs leads to deregulation of gene expression and may result in drug resistance. The altered miRNA plays a vital role in metastasis, drug resistance and tumorigenesis. MiRNAs are involved in most of the major signaling mechanisms of our body and has a pivotal role in the development of neurological disorders, cardiovascular disorders, autoimmune disorders as well as various types of cancers like breast cancer. Recent studies also explore the potential of miRNAs as drug targets, biomarkers and therapeutic agents. In this review, we describe the role of miRNAs in chemotherapy resistance and disease development with special emphasis to the mechanisms involved. MiRNAs associated with the development of resistance to hormonal therapy is also being discussed here.

Keywords: Breast cancer , microRNAs,  drug resistance