In tobacco stratified analysis, variant allele homozygous genotypes at mir-29a and Ran increased [adjusted OR (95% CI) = 1.5 (1-2.3) and 3 (1.1-8.4) respectively], while variant allele-containing genotypes at mir-34b decreased [adjusted OR (95% CI) = 0.6 (0.4-0.9)] the risk of cancer significantly.
Restoration of miR-29a in cervical cancer cell lines (CaSKi, HeLa, ME180 and Yumoto) revealed that this miRNA significantly inhibited cancer cell migration and invasion.
Increasing evidence shows that the abnormal expression of miR-29 family is associated with tumorigenesis and cancer progression, making miR-29s a well-analyzed group of miRNAs in cancer research.
Tumour-suppressive microRNA-29s inhibit cancer cell migration and invasion by targeting laminin-integrin signalling in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
Apart from their role in regular metabolism, abnormal profiles of miRNA expression accompany cancer transformation, including colorectal cancer (CRC) metastasis. microRNAs may play a role in each phase of CRC metastasis including angiogenesis, invasion, intravasation, circulation, extravasation and metastatic colonization. microRNA levels may serve as a predictive CRC marker, which was confirmed by the serum level of miR-29a targeting KLF4, a marker of cell stemness, and the plasma level of miR-221 down-regulating c-Kit, Stat5A and ETS1, which are signal transducers and transcription factor, respectively.
The synergy effect between miR-29a and arsenic trioxide may offer this drug a new chance in cancer therapy by decreasing its dose and toxic side-effects.