| خلاصه مقاله | Introduction
Breast cancer remains a major public health challenge, accounting for significant morbidity and
mortality worldwide. Advances in molecular biology have identified microRNAs (miRNAs), a
class of small non-coding RNAs, as key regulators of gene expression with critical roles in
carcinogenesis, tumor progression, and therapeutic resistance. Their distinct expression patterns
in breast cancer patients have positioned miRNAs as potential biomarkers for diagnosis,
prognosis, and treatment monitoring. This review synthesizes current knowledge of miRNA roles
in breast cancer, focusing on their potential as biomarkers and their clinical implications for
diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic resistance.
Methods
This review analyzes 300 published articles from January 2017 to December 2023, of which 12
were selected based on relevance and quality. Articles were identified using the keywords
miRNA, breast cancer, diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic resistance and evaluated to
summarize current knowledge of miRNA expression patterns and their implications for breast
cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.
Results
Dysregulation of miRNAs is a hallmark of breast cancer, with distinct patterns of upregulation
and downregulation observed in patient samples. MiRNA-205, a tumor suppressor, is frequently
downregulated in aggressive and metastatic breast cancer subtypes. Its reduced expression is
associated with poor prognosis, higher tumor grade, and therapy resistance. Functionally,
miRNA-205 inhibits epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by targeting key transcriptional
repressors such as zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) and ZEB2, thereby reducing
tumor invasiveness and metastatic potential. Additionally, it modulates pathways like PI3K/AKT
and MAPK, suppressing proliferation and promoting apoptosis. Given its consistent
downregulation, miRNA-205 serves as a promising diagnostic and prognostic biomarker.
Preclinical studies show that restoring miRNA-205 expression using mimics or nanocarriers can
re-establish its tumor-suppressive functions, underscoring its therapeutic potential. In addition to
miR-205, miR-200c and miR-141, both implicated in breast cancer pathogenesis, show
decreased expression levels in breast cancer patients compared to healthy individuals. Notably,
miR-200c levels are elevated in stage 4 patients with low MIB-1 expression, while miR-141
expression is significantly increased in earlier stages (1–3), as well as in cases of lymph node
metastases and HER2-negative tumors. These findings suggest that miR-141 and miR-200c may
serve as prognostic indicators, with their altered expression profiles linked to disease progression
and patient outcomes. Additionally, miR-10 b and miR-373 are markedly upregulated in the
serum of patients with lymph node metastases, making them valuable biomarkers for assessing
lymphatic involvement. In addition to their diagnostic and prognostic roles, miRNAs contribute
to therapeutic resistance. For example, miR-29a and miR-222 have been shown to modulate
breast cancer cell resistance to adriamycin and docetaxel, respectively. These findings underscore
the multifaceted roles of miRNAs in breast cancer, spanning tumor biology and treatment
response.
Conclusion
MicroRNAs hold significant promise as biomarkers for the diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic
management of breast cancer. Their ability to predict and influence drug resistance further
highlights their clinical relevance. By integrating miRNA profiling into breast cancer research
and clinical practice, we can improve early detection, personalize treatment strategies, and
enhance patient outcomes. |