MicroRNAs Contribute to Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma is a leading unnatural death worldwide, and it causes second most common cancer related death. Hepatocellular carcinoma development is distinct from other types of cancer, which is usually based on hepatic cirrhosis resulted from various etiologies including viral hepatitis, non-alcoholic liver diseases and alcohol abuse. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of small, non-coding sequences with approximate 20∼ bp in length, which post-transcriptionally regulates target genes to control multiple biological activities. Recent studies have indicated that miRNAs contribute to hepatocellular carcinoma, indicating that targeting miRNAs might be a novel therapeutic strategy for the management of hepatocellular carcinoma. In this review, we summarized recent advances in the role of miRNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma, and also discussed the potential therapeutic and prognostic values of miRNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma.