MicroRNAs in thyroid cancer with focus on medullary thyroid carcinoma: potential therapeutic targets and diagnostic/prognostic markers and web based tools

ELHAM SHAKIBA¹, SETI BOROOMAND², SIMA KHERADMAND KIA³, MEHDI HEDAYATI^4,*
1 Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, 1651153511, Iran
2 Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, V5Z 1M9, Canada
3 Department of Blood Cell Research, Laboratory for Red Blood Cell Diagnostics, Sanquin, Amsterdam, 1006 AN, The Netherlands
4 Cellular and Molecular Endocrine Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 1985717413, Iran
* Corresponding Author: MEHDI HEDAYATI. Email: email

Oncology Research https://doi.org/10.32604/or.2024.049235

Received 31 December 2023; Accepted 19 March 2024; Published online 25 April 2024

Abstract

This review aimed to describe the inculpation of microRNAs (miRNAs) in thyroid cancer (TC) and its subtypes, mainly medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), and to outline web-based tools and databases for bioinformatics analysis of miRNAs in TC. Additionally, the capacity of miRNAs to serve as therapeutic targets and biomarkers in TC management will be discussed. This review is based on a literature search of relevant articles on the role of miRNAs in TC and its subtypes, mainly MTC. Additionally, web-based tools and databases for bioinformatics analysis of miRNAs in TC were identified and described. MiRNAs can perform as oncomiRs or antioncoges, relying on the target mRNAs they regulate. MiRNA replacement therapy using miRNA mimics or antimiRs that aim to suppress the function of certain miRNAs can be applied to correct miRNAs aberrantly expressed in diseases, particularly in cancer. MiRNAs are involved in the modulation of fundamental pathways related to cancer, resembling cell cycle checkpoints and DNA repair pathways. MiRNAs are also rather stable and can reliably be detected in different types of biological materials, rendering them favorable diagnosis and prognosis biomarkers as well. MiRNAs have emerged as promising tools for evaluating medical outcomes in TC and as possible therapeutic targets. The contribution of miRNAs in thyroid cancer, particularly MTC, is an active area of research, and the utility of web applications and databases for the biological data analysis of miRNAs in TC is becoming increasingly important.