Role of MicroRNA in Acute Myeloid Leukaemia: An Overview

Abstract

Expression of MicroRNAs (miRNAs), key regulators of normal haematopoiesis, is reportedly dysregulated in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).Aberrant microRNA expression has been associated with different subtypes of AML, where they exert tumor suppressive or oncogenic functions. Deregulated microRNA expression has been shown to be of prognostic significance. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that repression and ectopic expression of microRNAs affect response to treatment in AML. Consequently, microRNAs may act as potential biomarkers in AML hence production of new anti-AML drugs directed towards increasing and/or silencing miRNA expression may suffice.