ecancermedicalscience

Review

miRNAs and resistance to EGFR—TKIs in EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer: beyond ‘traditional mechanisms’ of resistance

2 Sep 2015
Biagio Ricciuti, Carmen Mecca, Matteo Cenci, Giulia Leonardi, Lorenzo Perrone, Clelia Mencaroni, Lucio Crinò, Francesco Grignani, Sara Baglivo, Rita Chiari, Angelo Sidoni, Luca Paglialunga, Maria Francesca Currà, Emanuele Murano, Vincenzo Minotti, Giulio Metro

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have dramatically changed the prognosis of advanced non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) that harbour specific EGFR activating mutations. However, the efficacy of an EGFR-TKI is limited by the onset of acquired resistance, usually within one year, in virtually all treated patients. Moreover, a small percentage of EGFR-mutant NSCLCs do not respond to an EGFR-TKI, thus displaying primary resistance. At the present time, several mechanisms of either primary and acquired resistance have been elucidated, and new drugs are currently under preclinical and clinical development in order to overcome resistance to treatment. Nevertheless, there still remains much to be thoroughly investigated, as so far research has mainly focused on the role of proteincoding genes involved in resistance to EGFR-TKIs. On the other hand, in line with the data underscoring the relevance of non-coding RNAs in the pathogenesis of lung cancer and modulation of response to systemic therapies, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been supposed to play an important role in resistance to EGFR-TKIs. The aim of this review is to briefly summarise the existing relationship between miRNAs and resistance to EGFR-TKIs, and also focusing on the possible clinical applications of miRNAs in reverting and overcoming such resistance.

Related Articles

Mehak Trikha, Vanita Noronha, Minit Shah, Vijay Patil, Nandini Menon, Ajaykumar Singh, Pratik Chandrani, Omshree Shetty, Rajiv Kumar Kaushal, Trupti Pai, Amit Janu, Nilendu Purandare, Kumar Prabhash
Talita Alves do Nascimento Santos, Anna Karoline Fausto da Silva, Karin Soares Gonçalves Cunha, Camila Braz Pereira da Costa, Aldo Rodrigues da Silva, Helena Carla Castro, Nathália Silva Carlos Oliveira
Lisa Ximena Rodríguez Rojas, Liliana Doza Martínez, Jorge Andrés Olave Rodríguez, Sandra Eliana Murillo Rusynke, Paola Andrea Pérez Castellano, David Alexander Bolaños Beltrán, Helen Johana Ortiz Rojas, José Antonio Nastasi Catanese
Abhijit Shah, Surag KR, Anupam Choudhary, Kasi Viswanath, Krishnakanth AVB, Chaitanya Krishna, Padmaraj Hegde, Gayathri S, Swathi PM
Chalothorn Wannaphut, Phuuwadith Wattanachayakul, Sakditad Saowapa, Ben Ponvilawan, Manasawee Tanariyakul, Jakrin Kewcharoen, Pitchaporn Yingchoncharoen, Thanathip Suenghataiphorn, Noppawit Aiumtrakul, Jared Acoba
Sarah O John-Olabode, Ifeoma C Udenze, Adebola A Adejimi, Obiefuna Ajie, Kehinde S Okunade