Crosstalk between KRAS and miRNA in cancer
1 State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Department of Physiology, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, NJU Advanced Institute of Life Sciences (NAILS), School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
2 Department of Urology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
Abstract

Kirsten RAS viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) is one of the most frequently mutated oncogenes in human cancers. Its mutations result in constitutive activation of the protein, which drives the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling pathways and promotes tumor progression. Meanwhile, microRNAs (miRNAs), as key post-transcriptional regulators, can directly or indirectly modulate the activity of the KRAS signaling network, forming a bidirectional regulatory axis. This review summarizes the complex interplay between KRAS and miRNAs: on one hand, specific miRNAs suppress oncogenic signaling by targeting KRAS or its upstream/downstream effectors; on the other hand, mutant KRAS actively hijacks miRNA biogenesis, processing, and function, leading to a global reprogramming of miRNA expression that drives tumor progression, immune evasion, and drug resistance. In-depth dissection of this dynamic regulatory mechanism not only offers novel insights into the biology of KRAS-driven tumors, but also establishes a theoretical foundation for developing miRNA-based therapeutic interventions.

Keywords

KRAS; miRNA; oncogenic KRAS signaling; MAPK signaling; colorectal cancer; post-transcriptional regulation

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