Aim: Gynecologic malignancies are serious problems in female health. Here we aim to discuss the involvement of microRNA (miRNA) in the pathogenesis of gynecologic cancers and use of miRNA profiles for diagnosis of diseases.
Methods: In order to obtain information needed for this review, we searched the PubMed database with the following keywords: miRNA and ovarian cancer; miRNA and cervical cancer; and miRNA and endometrial cancer.
Results: Recent explosive investigations in the field have dramatically expanded our knowledge of the roles of miRNA in the pathology of gynecologic malignancies. In ovarian cancer, miRNA participates in the development of drug resistance. In cervical cancer and endometrial cancer, miRNA play essential roles in important oncogenic processes, including cell proliferation, migration and metastasis. miRNA also have high potentials to be used as biomarkers in these diseases.
Conclusion: Further validation of the studies and improvement of the methods will result in the broader use of miRNA in the diagnosis of diseases as well as in understanding of the pathomechanisms of gynecologic cancers.
Keywords: cervical cancer; endometrial cancer; miRNA; ovarian cancer.
© 2016 Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology.