The molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potential of microRNA-7 in cancer

INTRODUCTION: Increasing evidence supports that microRNAs (miRNAs) play crucial roles in cancer through post-transcriptional gene silencing of their target genes, therefore, more and more effort has been devoted to develop miRNA-targeting therapeutics in cancer. MicroRNA-7 (miR-7) has been characterized as a potential tumor suppressor and regulates diverse fundamental biological processes of cancer cells including initiation, proliferation, migration, invasion, survival and death by targeting a number of oncogenic signaling pathways. AREAS COVERED: This review examines evidence of the biological responses of miR-7 in cancer, with an emphasis on its regulation of the vital oncogenic signaling pathways. It also discusses the rationale, strategies and challenges of miR-7 as a potential therapeutic target for cancer. EXPERT OPINION: With the increasing understanding of molecular mechanisms of miR-7-mediated regulatory networks and the advancement of miRNA-based therapeutics, targeting miR-7 may be a potential and promising strategy for cancer therapy.