MicroRNA-9 as a paradoxical but critical regulator of cancer metastasis: Implications in personalized medicine

Metastasis, is a development of secondary tumor growths at a distance from the primary site, and closely related to poor prognosis and mortality. However, there is still no effective treatment for metastatic cancer. Therefore, there is an urgent need to find an effective therapy for cancer metastasis. Plenty of evidence indicates that miR-9 can function as a promoter or suppressor in cancer metastasis and coordinate multistep of metastatic process. In this review, we summarize the different roles of miR-9 with the corresponding molecular mechanisms in metastasis of twelve common cancers and the multiple mechanisms underlying miR-9-mediated regulation of metastasis, benefiting the further research of miR-9 and metastasis, and hoping to bridge it with clinical applications. Copyright (C) 2020, Chongqing Medical University. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V.

Automated summary

Metastasis refers to secondary tumor growth at a distant site from the primary tumor, which is closely linked to poor prognosis and mortality. miR-9 plays a dual role as a promoter or suppressor in cancer metastasis and is involved in coordinating multiple steps of the metastatic process. Studying the various mechanisms of miR-9 in regulating metastasis can facilitate further research and potentially inform clinical applications in the future.