Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains one of the most lethal human cancer globally. For advanced HCC, curable plan for advanced HCC is yet to be established, and the prognosis remains poor. The detail mechanisms underlying the progression of HCC tumorigenicity and the corruption of tumor microenvironment (TME) is complex and inconclusive. A growing body of studies demonstrate microRNAs (miRs) are important regulators in the tumorigenicity and TME development. Notably, mounting evidences indicate miR-29a play a crucial role in exerting hepatoprotective effect on various types of stress and involved in the progression of HCC, which elucidates their potential theragnostic implications. In this review, we reviewed the advanced insights into the detail mechanisms by which miR-29a dictates carcinogenesis, epigenetic program, and metabolic adaptation, and implicated in the sponging activity of competitive endogenous RNAs (ceRNA) and the TME components in the scenario of HCC. Furthermore, we highlighted its clinical significance in diagnosis and prognosis, as well as the emerging therapeutics centered on the activation of miR-29a.
Keywords: angiogenesis; carcinogenesis; competitive endogenous RNAs; diagnosis; epigenetics; fibrosis; hepatocellular carcinoma; immunomodulation; metabolic adaptation; metastasis; miR-29a; therapeutics; tumor microenvironment.