MicroRNA Regulation in Tumor Angiogenesis

Tumor angiogenesis—the growth of new blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients to developing tumors—is orchestrated by a balance of pro- and anti-angiogenic signals. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small noncoding RNAs, exert powerful post-transcriptional control over key mediators of vascular growth, from vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) and its receptors to matrix metalloproteinases that remodel the extracellular matrix. Within cancer cells, oncogenic miRNAs may enhance the “angiogenic switch” by upregulating VEGF-A or by silencing inhibitors of endothelial proliferation, whereas tumour-suppressor miRNAs can blunt new vessel formation by targeting pro-angiogenic transcripts. Beyond the tumour cell, miRNAs in endothelial cells directly regulate cell proliferation, migration and tube formation, while extracellular vesicle-associated miRNAs shuttle between stromal and tumour compartments to coordinate vascular remodelling in a non-cell-autonomous manner. The dual roles of miRNAs in both cancer and endothelial cell compartments offer opportunities for novel anti-angiogenic interventions and biomarkers: restoring tumour-suppressor miRNAs or inhibiting oncogenic miRNAs may complement existing therapies such as monoclonal antibodies and tyrosine kinase inhibitors. The global significance of this regulatory axis spans multiple tumour types and holds promise for improved stratification and personalised anti-angiogenic regimens.

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MicroRNA Regulation in Tumor Angiogenesis publication trend

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

Technical terms

microRNA: Short noncoding RNA molecule (~22 nucleotides) that post-transcriptionally regulates gene expression.

Angiogenesis: Formation of new blood vessels from existing vasculature, essential for tumour growth and metastasis.

Endothelial cell: The cell type lining the interior surface of blood vessels, central to new vessel formation.

Extracellular vesicle: Membrane-bound particle secreted by cells that can transfer molecular cargo such as miRNAs between cells.

Anti-angiogenic therapy: Treatment strategy aimed at inhibiting the formation or function of tumour blood vessels.

References

1. Insights into the Regulation of Tumor Angiogenesis by Micro-RNAs. Journal of Clinical Medicine (2019).
2. Angiogenic role of miR-20a in breast cancer. PLOS ONE (2018).
3. MicroRNA Targeting to Modulate Tumor Microenvironment. Frontiers in Oncology (2016).