Could miRNA replacement be a novel therapy for adrenocortical carcinoma

Abstract

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) has poor outcomes and there is a need for novel effective treatments for metastatic disease and adjuvant therapy. miRNAs are small endogenous noncoding RNAs that control gene expression. miRNAs are dysregulated in all cancers and manipulation of miRNA levels is under investigation as a novel therapy in other cancers with poor outcomes such as mesothelioma. In this review, the rationale for miRNA therapy will be presented along with the current understanding of the role of miRNA dysregulation and miRNA regulation of ACC. Potential therapeutic approaches of miRNA therapy using established delivery systems such as liposomes and targeted nanocells will be presented, along with the future challenges of establishing miRNA therapy in clinical trials for ACC.