The promising role of miR-296 in human cancer

Abstract MicroRNAs (MiRNAs) are small non–protein-coding RNA molecules that silence mRNA translation; they have emerged as key players in nearly all biological processes in the past few decades. In particular, miRNAs are involved in carcinogenic processes, with either oncogenic or tumor suppressive roles in human cancers. The abnormal expression of miR-296 has important roles in various cellular processes inhuman malignancies, including cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition. Epigenetic mechanisms and upstream transcription factors are responsible for the regulation of miR-296 expression in cancer. In this review, we summarize and discuss the most recent findings regarding miR-296 in cancer, including its downstream targets, functional effects, underlying regulatory mechanisms, and therapeutic potentials.