| To protect tissues and the organism from disease, potentially harmful cells are removed through programmed
cell death processes, including apoptosis and necroptosis. These types of cell death are critically controlled by
microRNAs (miRNAs). MiRNAs are short RNA molecules that target and inhibit expression of many cellular
regulators, including those controlling programmed cell death via the intrinsic (Bcl-2 and Mcl-1), extrinsic
(TRAIL and Fas), p53-and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced apoptotic pathways, as well as the necroptosis cell death pathway. In this review, we discuss the current knowledge of apoptosis and necroptosis
pathways and how these are impaired in cancer cells. We focus on how miRNAs disrupt apoptosis and necroptosis, thereby critically contributing to malignancy. Understanding which and how miRNAs and their targets
affect cell death pathways could open up novel therapeutic opportunities for cancer patients. Indeed, restoration
of pro-apoptotic tumor suppressor miRNAs (apoptomiRs) or inhibition of oncogenic miRNAs (oncomiRs) represent strategies that are currently being trialed or are already applied as miRNA-based cancer therapies.
Therefore, better understanding the cancer type-specific expression of apoptomiRs and oncomiRs and their
underlying mechanisms in cell death pathways will not only advance our knowledge, but also continue to
provide new opportunities to treat cancer. |