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.
