Suppressive and Hypermethylated MicroRNAs in the Pathogenesis of Breast Cancer

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in oncogenesis by suppression of proto-oncogenes or tumor suppressive genes. This review presents data of suppressive miRNAs role in the mechanisms of occurrence and development of malignant tumors of breast cancer as the example—that is the most widespread oncopathology in women. Targets and functions of suppressive and antimetastatic miRNAs have been illustrated, as well as for suppressive miRNAs with an oncogenic potential (such as miR-200a, miR-200c) that appears probably owing to the ability of miRNA to interact with a variety of targets depending on the cellular content. Based on the published and the authors’ own data, the role of hypermethylation of promoter regions in inhibition of expression and regulatory function of miRNA genes in breast cancer was characterized. In conclusion, the authors pointed future prospects of clinical application of suppressive miRNAs in diagnostics and treatment of breast cancer.