Competing endogenous RNA networks in cervical cancer: function, mechanism and perspective

Abstract

In the past several years, competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) have emerged as a potential class of post-transcriptional regulators that alter gene expression through a microRNA (miRNA)-mediated mechanism. An increasing number of studies have found that ceRNAs play important roles in tumorigenesis. Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers in female malignancies. Despite advances in our understanding of this neoplasm, patients with advanced cervical cancer still have poor prognosis. There is an urgent need to provide a new insight on the mechanism of cervical cancer development and may be acted as new anticancer therapeutic strategies. Here, we review the ceRNA studies and coherent researches in cervical cancer, especially in long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) and miRNAs in order to broaden horizons into mechanisms, selection biomarkers for diagnosis as well as predicting prognosis, and targeting treatment for cervical cancer in the future.

Keywords:

• Competing endogenous RNA
• microRNA
• long non-coding RNA
• cervical cancer

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation. [81302250] and Tianjin Health Bureau of Science and Technology Funds [2012KZ073].