MicroRNAs are important regulators of drug resistance in colorectal cancer

Biol Chem. 2017 Jul 26;398(8):929-938. doi: 10.1515/hsz-2016-0308.

Abstract

Despite of continuous development of cancer treatment over the past decades, drug resistance is still one of the major hurdles of effective therapy for advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) worldwide and the understanding of its underlying mechanisms remains limited. Data which have emerged suggests that many microRNAs (miRNAs) may contribute to drug resistance in CRC. Major findings on miRNA functions in drug resistance of CRC are systemically reviewed here, with the goal of providing new updates to broaden our comprehension of its mechanisms and evidence to utilize miRNAs as potential therapeutic targets for CRC treatment.

Keywords: apoptosis; chemoresistance; chemotherapy; colorectal cancer; drug resistance; miRNAs.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / genetics*
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / drug effects
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / pathology

Substances

  • MicroRNAs