The Role of miRNA-21 in the Metastasis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma as a Therapeutic Target

Mahdi  Alaee; Meysam  Moulaee; Kimia  Taebi; Ahoura  Haghi; Maryam  Hormozi; Mehdi  Azad

doi:10.18502/ijhoscr.v20i1.21013

Mahdi Alaee Shahid Rajaee Hospital, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
Meysam Moulaee Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
Kimia Taebi Student Research Committee, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
Ahoura Haghi Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Italy
Maryam Hormozi Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
Mehdi Azad Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijhoscr.v20i1.21013

Keywords: Hepatocellular carcinoma; Cancer; Epigenetics; miR-21

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a crucial health concern worldwide, representing a leading cause of cancer-related mortality and the most common form of primary liver cancer. The aggressive nature of HCC is mainly due to its high intention for invasion and metastasis, processes that are regulated by a complex network of genetic and molecular pathways. Among the critical regulators of these processes is microRNA-21 (miR-21), a small non-coding RNA that has been implicated in various oncogenic activities. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the role of miR-21 in promoting HCC metastasis progression, with a particular focus on its interaction with key signaling pathways, including the PTEN/PI3K/AKT, PDCD4/AP-1, RECK/MMP, and TIMP-3 axes. By targeting tumor suppressors, miR-21 facilitates epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), invasion, and metastasis of HCC cells. Understanding the molecular mechanisms regulated by miR-21 not only sheds light on the pathogenesis of HCC but also highlights possible therapeutic targets for combating this aggressive cancer.