MicroRNAs as a Potential New Preventive Approach in the Transition from Asymptomatic to Symptomatic Multiple Myeloma Disease

Cancers (Basel). 2021 Jul 21;13(15):3650. doi: 10.3390/cancers13153650.

Abstract

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematological malignancy characterised by proliferation of clonal plasma cells (PCs) within the bone marrow (BM). Myelomagenesis is a multi-step process which goes from an asymptomatic phase, defined as monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), to a smouldering myeloma (SMM) stage, to a final active MM disease, characterised by hypercalcemia, renal failure, bone lesions anemia, and higher risk of infections. Overall, microRNAs (miRNAs) have shown to significantly impact on MM tumorigenesis, as a result of miRNA-dependent modulation of genes involved in pathways known to be crucial for MM pathogenesis and disease progression. We aim to revise the literature related to the role of miRNAs as potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, thus highlighting their key role as novel players within the field of MM and related premalignant conditions.

Keywords: miRNA-based therapy; microRNAs; monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance; multiple myeloma; myelomagenesis.

Publication types

  • Review