MicroRNAs Contribute to Metastasis by Regulating Autophagy: Recent Concepts

Abstract

Autophagy means self-eating and is the degradation process of cellular proteins and organelles. In cancers, autophagy has a conflicting function. While it acts as a tumor suppressor by inhibiting the accumulation of damaged organelles and proteins, it functions as an oncogene and accelerates tumor progression. The related articles in the limited period of time of 2005 to mid-2020 were reviewed through searching PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus database. A total of 100 articles met all the selection criteria. The articles published in the last two decades related to the role of miRNAs in regulating autophagy and metastases were selected. Both miRNAs and autophagy involve in different signaling pathways that are activated in cancers. MicroRNAs and autophagy are critical factors for prediction of prognosis in cancer patients. Significant advancement has been achieved over the last decades. The development in therapeutic strategies has improved the survival rate of cancer patients. Metastasis is a multistep process; therefore, new detection biomarkers and treatment strategies are needed.