Small biomarkers with massive impacts: PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling and microRNA crosstalk regulate nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Hai-Long Li; Nian-Hua Deng; Xiu-Sheng He; Yue-Hua Li

doi:10.1186/s40364-022-00397-x

Small biomarkers with massive impacts: PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling and microRNA crosstalk regulate nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Biomark Res. 2022 Jul 26;10(1):52. doi: 10.1186/s40364-022-00397-x.

Authors

Hai-Long Li¹, Nian-Hua Deng², Xiu-Sheng He³, Yue-Hua Li⁴

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Cancer Cellular and Molecular Pathology in Hunan Province, Cancer Research Institute of Medical College, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, 421001, Hengyang, Hunan, P.R. China.
² Key Lab for Arteriosclerology of Hunan Province, International Joint Laboratory for Arteriosclerotic Disease Research of Hunan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, 421001, Hengyang, Hunan, P.R. China.
³ Key Laboratory of Cancer Cellular and Molecular Pathology in Hunan Province, Cancer Research Institute of Medical College, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, 421001, Hengyang, Hunan, P.R. China. hxs202009@163.com.
⁴ Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, 421001, Hengyang, P.R. China. liyuehua2020@stu.usc.edu.cn.

Abstract

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is one of the most common malignant tumours of the head and neck in Southeast Asia and southern China. The Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (AKT)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signalling pathway is involved in processes related to tumour initiation/progression, such as proliferation, apoptosis, metastasis, and drug resistance, and is closely related to the clinicopathological features of NPC. In addition, key genes involved in the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling pathway undergo many changes in NPC. More interestingly, a growing body of evidence suggests an interaction between this signalling pathway and microRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small noncoding RNAs. Therefore, in this review, we discuss the interactions between key components of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling pathway and various miRNAs and their importance in NPC pathology and explore potential diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

Keywords: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma; PI3K/AKT/mTOR; miRNAs.

Publication types

Review