Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are conserved, small, non-coding RNA molecules, which recently have attracted enormous attention in numerous physiological and pathological conditions. Several studies have shed light on their biogenesis, regulatory mechanisms, and role as effective therapies in diseased conditions. Of interest, miRNA deregulation in numerous cancer types has been researched as potential diagnostic and prognostic tool. Breast cancer (BCa) is the most predominant tumor in women and the main cause of death. Despite advances in diagnosis and new treatments, the death toll from this disease is still higher than many other types of cancer in men and women. A major global health issue plaguing the health and clinical research industry is resistance to BCa treatments. A lot of attention is increasingly directed towards miRNAs as a potential predictor’s response to treatments and as an alternative therapy to BCa treatment. Increasing evidence reveals a fundamental role miRNA plays in cancer development, progression, and treatment. Repeated findings have reinforced evidence of miRNA modulations in breast cancer cells by their effects in cell migration and invasion. Recently, miRNAs have been described as a diagnostic and prognostic tool, which offers promises as biomarkers for advancement of non-invasive and precise methods for screening tumor growth and progression. This review summarizes an overview of miRNA in breast cancer growth and progression, recent applications as biomarkers in a clinical setting in this type of cancers.