Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality in the world, indicating the need for innovative therapies for the disease. In recent years, microRNAs have emerged as one of the key players in regulating gene expression. Numerous studies have documented the implications of microRNAs in nearly every carcinogenesis process of lung cancer, including tumor development, apoptosis, invasion and metastasis, as well as anti-cancer drug resistance. Forced expression or suppression of microRNA can regulate the biological alteration during carcinogenesis, underscoring the therapeutic potential of microRNAs in lung cancer. This editorial summarizes recent reports of some key microRNAs that can modulate the lung cancer carcinogenesis process, expound the mechanisms by which they exert their functions, introduce some approaches for manipulating the action of microRNAs, and discuss the perspectives of microRNAs as therapeutic targets for lung cancer.