MicroRNA Regulation in Endometrial Cancer

MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that fine-tune gene expression at the post-transcriptional level and have emerged as pivotal regulators in the initiation, progression and therapeutic response of endometrial cancer. Dysregulated microRNA expression can alter key signalling cascades including PI3K/AKT, MAPK/ERK and Hippo, affecting cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration and immune evasion. Distinct microRNA profiles distinguish endometrioid and non-endometrioid subtypes, correlate with FIGO stage and predict response to hormone therapy. Circulating microRNA panels promise minimally invasive early detection and monitoring, while tissue-based signatures inform prognosis and guide personalised treatments. Recent advances also highlight the interplay between microRNAs and cell-death programmes, such as necroptosis, and their impact on tumour-immune interactions. Ongoing efforts aim to integrate microRNA biomarkers into clinical practice for risk stratification, fertility-sparing management and novel targeted approaches.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent work has established a necroptosis-related microRNA signature to predict outcomes in uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma. By analysing RNA-sequencing data from hundreds of tumour and normal samples, key necroptosis-associated microRNAs were identified, of which two (miR-425-5p and miR-7-5p) demonstrated independent prognostic value. A nomogram combining these microRNAs with clinical parameters such as age, FIGO stage and histological type provided robust risk stratification for overall survival. Functional enrichment revealed roles in tumour growth, metastasis and immune cell infiltration, underlining the interface between programmed cell death and antitumour immunity. Validation in clinical specimens confirmed differential expression of the targeted immune gene, establishing these microRNAs as candidate prognostic markers and suggesting that modulation of necroptosis pathways may offer therapeutic benefit.

MicroRNA Regulation in Endometrial Cancer publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in microrna regulation in endometrial cancer across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

microRNA: A small, single-stranded non-coding RNA molecule (19–25 nucleotides) that binds to target messenger RNA to inhibit translation or promote degradation.

Necroptosis: A regulated form of cell death distinct from apoptosis, characterised by membrane rupture and inflammatory signalling, with emerging roles in cancer progression and immune modulation.

Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT): A biological process in which epithelial cells acquire mesenchymal properties, enhancing motility and invasiveness during cancer metastasis.

Prognostic signature: A defined set of molecular markers whose combined expression patterns predict clinical outcomes such as survival or risk of recurrence.

References

1. Circulating miRNAs as a Tool for Early Diagnosis of Endometrial Cancer—Implications for the Fertility-Sparing Process: Clinical, Biological, and Legal Aspects. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2023).
2. The interplay of sex steroid hormones and microRNAs in endometrial cancer: current understanding and future directions. Frontiers in Endocrinology (2023).
3. Circulating and Endometrial Tissue microRNA Markers Associated with Endometrial Cancer Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Response to Treatment. Cancers (2023).
4. Development of a necroptosis-related prognostic model for uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma. Scientific Reports (2024).