The dual role of microRNA (miR)-20b in cancers: Friend or foe?

MicroRNAs, as non-coding transcripts, modulate gene expression through RNA silencing under normal physiological conditions. Their aberrant expression has strongly associated with tumorigenesis and cancer development. MiR-20b is one of the crucial miRNAs that regulate essential biological processes such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, autophagy, and migration. Deregulated levels of miR-20b contribute to the early- and advanced stages of cancer. On the other hand, investigations emphasize the tumor suppressor ability of miR-20b. High-throughput strategies are developed to identify miR-20b potential targets, providing the proper insight into its molecular mechanism of action. Moreover, accumulated results suggest that miR-20b exerts its effects through diverse signaling pathways, including PI3K/AKT/mTOR and ERK axes. Restoration of the altered expression levels of miR-20b induces cell apoptosis and reduces invasion and migration. Further, miR-20b can be used as a biomarker in cancer. The current comprehensive review could lead to a better understanding of the miR-20b in either tumorigenesis or tumor regression that may open new avenues for cancer treatment. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12964-022-01019-7.