title: The role of microRNA in resistance to breast cancer therapy.
abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNA molecules with big implications in cancer. The abnormal expression of specific miRNAs has been linked to development of many cancer types. Dysregulated miRNAs play a significant role in proliferation, invasion, differentiation, apoptosis, and resistance of various cancer cells, and considered as oncogenes or tumor-suppressor genes. Findings have shown abnormal expression of specific miRNAs in breast tumors is a strong indication about the resistance to conventional cancer therapy methods. Acquired cancer resistance is a complex, multifactorial occurrence that requires various mechanisms and processes, however, recent studies have suggested that resistance may be linked to treatment-induced dysregulation of miRNAs. This dysregulation of miRNAs can affect the protein expression in cells, the ability for anti-cancer drugs to reach their targets within cells, and the apoptotic pathways. Controlling the expression of these miRNAs alters the resistant phenotype of breast cancer to a nonresistant one. This review focuses on the role of dysregulated miRNAs in breast cancer that are linked to resistance against chemo-, radiation, hormone, and targeted therapies. Finally, the role of miRNAs in breast cancer metastasis is briefly discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University at Albany, SUNY, Albany, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Neil M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.forename: Mehmet V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Yigit
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004351:Drug Resistance; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D035683:MicroRNAs