Regulation of Hedgehog Signaling by miRNAs and Nanoformulations: A Possible Therapeutic Solution for Colorectal Cancer

Zeeshan Javed; Muhammad Javed Iqbal; Amna Rasheed; Haleema Sadia; Shahid Raza; Asma Irshad; Wojciech Koch; Wirginia Kukula-Koch; Anna Głowniak-Lipa; William C Cho; Javad Sharifi-Rad

doi:10.3389/fonc.2020.607607

Regulation of Hedgehog Signaling by miRNAs and Nanoformulations: A Possible Therapeutic Solution for Colorectal Cancer

Front Oncol. 2021 Jan 7:10:607607. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2020.607607. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Office for Research Innovation and Commercialization, Lahore Garrison University, Lahore, Pakistan.
² Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Sialkot, Sialkot, Pakistan.
³ School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.
⁴ Department of Biotechnology, Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta, Pakistan.
⁵ Department of Life Sciences, University of Management and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan.
⁶ Chair and Department of Food and Nutrition, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland.
⁷ Department of Pharmacognosy, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland.
⁸ Department of Cosmetology, University of Information Technology and Management in Rzeszów, Rzeszów, Poland.
⁹ Department of Clinical Oncology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
¹⁰ Phytochemistry Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
¹¹ Facultad de Medicina, Universidad del Azuay, Cuenca, Ecuador.

Abstract

Hedgehog (Hh) signaling aberrations trigger differentiation and proliferation in colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the current approaches which inhibit this vital cellular pathway provoke some side effects. Therefore, it is necessary to look for new therapeutic options. MicroRNAs are small molecules that modulate expression of the target genes and can be utilized as a potential therapeutic option for CRC. On the other hand, nanoformulations have been implemented in the treatment of plethora of diseases. Owing to their excessive bioavailability, limited cytotoxicity and high specificity, nanoparticles may be considered as an alternative drug delivery platform for the Hh signaling mediated CRC. This article reviews the Hh signaling and its involvement in CRC with focus on miRNAs, nanoformulations as potential diagnostic/prognostic and therapeutics for CRC.

Keywords: Hedgehog signaling; colorectal cancer; miRNAs; nanoformulations; nanoparticle; therapeutics.

Publication types

Review