The crosstalk between miRNAs and autophagy in cancer progression

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small (17-25 nucleotide-long), non-coding RNAs that modulate and repress the expression of their target mRNAs. Aberrant expression of miRNAs is linked to many human diseases including cancer. Impaired levels of miRNAs may also result in defected autophagy. Autophagy is a double-edged sword during cancer initiation and progression. At the beginning of tumorigenesis, autophagy suppresses tumor formation by removing defective organelles such as mitochondria; restricting oxidative stress and protecting genome stability. However, in the later stages of tumor formation, autophagy is a survival pathway for tumor cells under the low levels of oxygen (hypoxia), deprivation of growth factors and glucose. The main focus of this chapter is the interplay between miRNAs and autophagy during initiation and progression of cancer. © Springer International Publishing AG 2018.