MicroRNAs in the Pathogenesis, Prognostication and Prediction of Treatment Resistance in Soft Tissue Sarcomas

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Soft tissue sarcoma is a rare entity that accounts for 1% of adult cancers but represents 20% of paediatric solid tumours. Overall prognosis in advanced disease remains poor. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNAs that target mRNAs and control gene expression and may exert both oncogenic and tumour suppressor functions in cancers. The deregulation of miRNAs in soft tissue sarcomas may be exploited in the development of miRNA-based strategies for the prognostication of disease outcomes, identification of treatment resistance and new-generation therapeutics. ABSTRACT: Soft tissue sarcomas are highly aggressive malignant neoplasms of mesenchymal origin, accounting for less than 1% of adult cancers, but comprising over 20% of paediatric solid tumours. In locally advanced, unresectable, or metastatic disease, outcomes from even the first line of systemic treatment are invariably poor. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), which are short non-coding RNA molecules, target and modulate multiple dysregulated target genes and/or signalling pathways within cancer cells. Accordingly, miRNAs demonstrate great promise for their utility in diagnosing, prognosticating and improving treatment for soft tissue sarcomas. This review aims to provide an updated discussion on the known roles of specific miRNAs in the pathogenesis of sarcomas, and their potential use in prognosticating outcomes and prediction of therapeutic resistance.