title: Targeting microRNAs in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition-induced cancer stem cells: therapeutic approaches in cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a pathological phenomenon of cancer that confers tumor cells with increased cell motility, invasive and metastatic abilities with the acquisition of 'cancer stem-like cell' (CSC) phenotype. EMT endows tumor cells with intrinsic/acquired resistant phenotype at achievable doses of anticancer drugs and leads to tumor recurrence and progression. Besides the complex network of signaling pathways, microRNAs (miRNAs) are being evolved as a new player in the induction and regulation of EMT.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this review article, the author has searched the PubMed and Google Scholar electronic databases for original research and review articles to gather current information on the association of EMT-induced CSCs with therapeutic resistance, tumor growth and metastasis, which are believed to be regulated by certain miRNAs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This review outlines not only the perspective on selective targeting of EMT-induced CSCs through altered expression of novel miRNAs and/or the use of conventional drugs that affect the levels of critical miRNAs but also the strategies on overcoming the drug resistance by interfering with EMT and modulating its associated pathways in CSCs that can be considered as potential therapeutic approaches toward eradicating the tumor recurrence and metastasis.
authors.affiliation: University of Lucknow, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology , Lucknow - 226007 , India minal14@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Minal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D018450:Disease Progression; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D035683:MicroRNAs
keywords: cancer stem cells; carcinogenesis; epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition; microRNAs; therapeutic drugs