Research advances in the association of miRNAs with EGFR mutation, EGFR-TKI, and radiotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is most popular in targeted therapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In recent years, there have been a great number of molecular biology studies of EGFR. Radiotherapy is well-known as a traditional and important treatment for NSCLC, and the treatment outcome is associated with EGFR mutation and overexpression. Phase Ⅲ trials are needed to evaluate the effect of a combination of radiotherapy and EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) in the treatment of NSCLC. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) can modulate tumor-associated gene expression and influence the biological process of tumor. Recent studies have demonstrated that miRNAs play a positive or negative role in EGFR mutation, EGFR-TKI treatment, and radiotherapy, which mechanism has been partially clarified. In this article, we review the research advances in the association of miRNAs with EGFR mutation, EGFR-TKI, and radiotherapy, so as to provide the latest evidence for the application of miRNAs in the combination of radiotherapy and EGFR-TKI for the treatment of NSCLC. Key words: Carcinoma, non-small cell lung/radiotherapy; Epidermal growth factor receptor; Tyrosine kinase inhibitor