Diagnostic and therapeutic role of microRNAs in oral cancer

Oral cancer is one of the leading types of cancer and remains the most common cause of cancer-related mortality in Asia. The pathogenesis of oral cancer is complicated and, due to lack of accurate diagnostic methods and efficient treatment strategies, oral cancer is responsible for a large number of deaths. Therefore, there is an urgent need for developing novel diagnostic tools and targeted therapies. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) represent a class of small non-coding RNAs that are key elements and play critical regulatory roles in the pathological processes of various diseases. miRNAs are widely distributed in body fluids and are specifically expressed in different cancers, and they may represent effective biomarkers that may be used for early detection of oral cancer. In addition, miRNAs are involved in oral cancer development, progression and prognosis by targeting a broad range of mRNAs that may be of therapeutic value for oral cancer. The aim of the present review was to summarize the role of miRNAs as new diagnostic tools and potential therapeutic targets in oral cancer, and investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms.