Epithelial-mesenchymal-associated non-coding RNAs as Breast cancer metastasis biomarkers.

Abstract

Breast cancer (BC) is identified as a significant cause of cancer mortality in the female population. The recurrence of initial tumors and the metastasis to remote areas of the body are significant factors leading to the mortality linked with BC. Despite the advancements in diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying metastasis is still unclear, particularly regarding the regulatory role of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Different categories of ncRNAs, including microRNAs (miRNAs), circular RNAs (circRNAs), and long ncRNAs (lncRNAs), can manage the complex regulatory frameworks of EMT at various levels. Since dysregulation of ncRNAs is associated with key processes in EMT, investigating them as valuable tools for identifying the metastatic potential of tumors at an early stage could significantly increase diagnostic accuracy and improve patient outcomes, particularly in BC. This review aims to bridge this gap by systematically summarizing current insights into the interplay between EMT and various classes of ncRNAs in the context of BC progression. We discuss the molecular pathways through which ncRNAs regulate EMT, their impact on metastasis and explore their potential as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. By providing an integrative overview of recent findings, this article highlights unresolved questions and proposes directions for future research, offering a valuable resource for researchers and clinicians involved in breast cancer biology and treatment development.