Targeting the Oncogenic Role of miRNA in Human Cancer Using Naturally Occurring Compounds

Scientists are exploring innovative approaches to cancer therapy, and a recent study from Norwich, United Kingdom, has shed new light on the potential of naturally occurring compounds to target micro-RNAs (miRNAs) involved in cancer development. Researchers have identified miRNAs as crucial regulators of gene expression, with some miRNAs acting as oncogenes or tumor suppressors in various types of cancer, including leukemia, breast, and colorectal cancer.

Key Takeaways:

• Micro-RNAs (miRNAs) are small RNA molecules that regulate gene expression involved in development, growth, proliferation, and apoptosis.
• In cancer, several miRNAs have been classified as oncogenes or tumor suppressors, regulating transcription factors such as nuclear factor kappa B and NF-E2-related factor 2.
• Manipulating miRNA regulation may be a novel avenue for developing efficient therapies against cancer.
• Researchers have identified a naturally occurring anti-cancer compound in mistletoe that down-regulates miR-135a&b, which target the adenomatous polyposis coli gene, inactivating a major initiating event in colorectal tumourigenesis.
• The study showcases the regulatory mechanisms of miRNA synthesis and the potential outcomes for using naturally occurring compounds to target miRNA for therapeutic intervention.
• The researchers propose targeting miRNA using antioxidants or cellular antioxidant pathways for therapeutic intervention.

S.A. Rushworth and colleagues from the University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK, led the study, which was published in the British Journal of Pharmacology (Targeting the oncogenic role of miRNA in human cancer using naturally occurring compounds. British Journal of Pharmacology, 2011;162(2):346-8). The study's findings highlight the potential of natural compounds to combat cancer by targeting the regulatory mechanisms of miRNA.