MicroRNA-135b as therapeutic target in cancers

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that can negatively regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level through the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC)-mediated inhibition. Because of the imperfect and short seed-binding region of the target sequences, miRNAs hold capacity for multi-targeting and are able to regulate a wide range of cellular functions and signaling. Numerous researches have revealed that dysregulated miRNAs are closely associated with cancer progression. Moreover, genome-wide screening shows that the expression profile of miRNAs can serve as biomarkers for early diagnosis, stratifying patient outcome, and predicting treatment efficiency for cancer patients. Hence, seeking and dissecting the detailed mechanisms of cancer-associated miRNA may provide a new avenue for cancer targeting therapy. This review discussed the current proposed mechanisms of miR-135b involvement in cancer progression and tissue differentiation, both of which are considered as functional equivalents. The regulatory network of miR-135b are also addressed to further clarify the potential oncogenic role of miR-135b.