Abstract
microRNA-23a (miR-23a) is one of the most extensively studied miRNAs in different types of human cancer, and plays various roles in the initiation, progression, and treatment of tumors. Here, we comprehensively summarize and discuss the recent findings about the role of miR-23a in cancer. The differential expression of tissue miR-23a was reported, potentially indicating cancer stages, angiogenesis, and metastasis. miR-23a in human biofluid, such as plasma and salivary fluid, may be a sensitive and specific marker for early diagnosis of cancer. Tissue and circulating miR-23a serves as a prognostic factor for cancer patient survival, as well as a predictive factor for response to anti-tumor treatment. The direct and indirect regulation of miR-23a on multiple gene expression and signaling transduction mediates carcinogenesis, tumor proliferation, survival, cell migration and invasion, as well as the response to anti-tumor treatment. Tumor cell-derived miR-23a regulates the microenvironment of human cancer through manipulating both immune function and tumor vascular development. Several transcriptional and epigenetic factors may contribute to the dysregulation of miR-23a in cancer. This evidence highlights the essential role of miR-23a in the application of cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.
Highlights
Evidence on the role of microRNAs in human cancer has been accumulating since the first observation by Croce et al, of miRNAs dysregulation in cancer [1]
We focus on the role of miR-23a in human cancer, which has not yet been critically reviewed elsewhere, in order to determine its therapeutic potential, based on the clinical and biological insight into its function in cancer
In a study by Vychytilova-Faltejskova et al, miR-23a expression was found to be down-regulated in the serum of colorectal cancer patients, and a combination of serum miRNAs consisting of miR-23a, miR-27a-3p, miR-142-5p, and miR-376c-ep was proposed to be used for diagnosis of early-stage (T1-4N0M0, 0.877) colorectal cancer (0.917, 89% sensitivity and 81% specificity) [65]
Summary
Evidence on the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in human cancer has been accumulating since the first observation by Croce et al, of miRNAs dysregulation in cancer [1]. The idea that “aberrant miRNA expression is the rule rather than the exception in cancer” has been supported by a large volume of data obtained, in recent studies [3]. These suggest that miRNAs can control carcinogenesis, cancer cell proliferation and survival, metastasis, as well as cellular response to anti-cancer treatment [4]. Among the cancer-associated miRNAs, microRNA-23a (miR-23a) was the recent focus of study. We focus on the role of miR-23a in human cancer, which has not yet been critically reviewed elsewhere, in order to determine its therapeutic potential, based on the clinical and biological insight into its function in cancer
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