Mechanisms and Functions of MiR-200 Family in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common clinically malignant tumors of the digestive system. It ranks the sixth most common malignant tumor in the world and ranks fourth among cancer-related death worldwide. At present, early diagnosis and prognosis monitoring of hepatocellular carcinoma mainly use alpha-fetoprotein combined with ultrasonography, which leads to clinical frequently missed diagnosis or even misdiagnosis. Therefore, seeking specific diagnostic and monitoring molecules of hepatocellular carcinoma are still hot topics in contemporary medical practice. MicroRNA is an endogenous non-coding small RNA that regulates the expression of the target molecule and participates in various biological processes in vivo. The miR-200 family, the most common celebrity family of microRNAs, is commonly lower expression in a variety of cancers and is closely associated with tumorigenesis and outcome, especially hepatocellular carcinoma. This review mainly discusses the expression changes, specific molecular mechanisms, biological functions and clinical values of miR-200 family in hepatocellular carcinoma. Moreover, we highlighted utilization of miR-200 family as molecular biomarkers for early diagnosis, prognostic monitoring and appropriate therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma.