MicroRNA-146b: A Novel Biomarker and Therapeutic Target for Human Papillary Thyroid Cancer

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences Vol. 18; no. 3; p. 636
• Main Authors: Chou, Chen-Kai, Liu, Rue-Tusan, Kang, Hong-Yo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI 15.03.2017; MDPI AG
• Subjects: Animals; Biomarkers, Tumor; Carcinoma - diagnosis; Carcinoma - genetics; Carcinoma - metabolism; Carcinoma - therapy; Carcinoma, Papillary; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic - genetics; Disease Progression; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Lymphatic Metastasis; microRNA-146b; MicroRNAs - chemistry; MicroRNAs - genetics; Molecular Targeted Therapy; Mutation; papillary thyroid carcinoma; Prognosis; Recurrence; Review; RNA Interference; Signal Transduction; target gene; Thyroid Cancer, Papillary; Thyroid Neoplasms - diagnosis; Thyroid Neoplasms - genetics; Thyroid Neoplasms - metabolism; Thyroid Neoplasms - therapy; tumorigenesis; microRNA-146b; tumorigenesis; papillary thyroid carcinoma; target gene
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms18030636

Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is the most common tumor subtype of thyroid cancer. However, not all PTCs are responsive to current surgical and radioiodine treatment. The well-established clinical prognostic factors include tumor size, lymph node/distal metastasis, and extrathyroidal invasion. The /PTC- - linear molecular signaling cascade is known to mediate PTC pathogenesis. However, whether presence of mutation, the most common genetic alteration in PTC, can affect PTC behavior and prognosis is controversial. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been labeled as promising molecular prognostic markers in several tumor types. Our recent studies demonstrated that microRNA-146b (miR-146b) deregulation is associated with PTC aggressiveness and prognosis. Here we summarize the current knowledge related to the functional roles, regulated target genes, and clinical applications of miR-146b in PTC and discuss how these studies provide insights into the key role of miR-146b as an oncogenic regulator promoting cellular transformation as well as a prognosis marker for tumor recurrence in PTC. In conjunction with the current perspectives on miRNAs in a wide variety of human cancers, this review will hopefully translate these updated findings on miR-146b into more comprehensive diagnostic or prognostic information regarding treatment in PTC patients before surgical intervention and follow up strategies.