From Target Therapy to miRNA Therapeutics of Human Multiple Myeloma: Theoretical and Technological Issues in the Evolving Scenario

The progress in the understanding of biological events underlying multiple myeloma (MM) development and progression has allowed the design of molecularly targeted therapies (MTTs) for this disease and several new compounds are presently under investigation in the preclinical and clinical settings. The recent discovery that miRNAs, and short non coding RNAs in general, are involved in the pathogenesis of cancer has raised the issue whether a novel therapeutic approach should be provided by selective interference with miRNA network. This review will focus on the rationale of miRNA-based therapeutics, providing the most relevant information on biogenesis and technical issues in miRNA analysis. Finally, a detailed overview of the recent findings on miRNA therapeutics of MM will be discussed.