Amir Mehrgou
1 
, Shima Ebadollahi
2, Khaled Seidi
3, Mohammad Hosein Ayoubi-Joshaghani
4,5, Amirhossein Ahmadieh Yazdi
6, Peyman Zare
7,8, Mehdi Jaymand
9*, Rana Jahanban-Esfahlan
10,11*1 Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
2 Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
3 Biotechnology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, 9841 Tabriz, Iran.
4 Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, 9841 Tabriz, Iran.
5 Student Research Committees, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, 9841 Tabriz, Iran.
6 Research Center for Molecular Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
7 Dioscuri Center of Chromatin Biology and Epigenomics, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
8 Faculty of Medicine, Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw, 01-938 Warsaw, Poland.
9 Nano Drug Delivery Research Center, Health Technology Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.
10 Stem Cell Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, 9841 Tabriz, Iran.
11 Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most disseminated diseases across the globe engaging the digestive system. Various therapeutic methods from traditional to the state-of-the-art ones have been applied in CRC patients, however, the attempts have been unfortunate to lead to a definite cure. MiRNAs are a smart group of non-coding RNAs having the capabilities of regulating and controlling coding genes. By utilizing this stock-in-trade biomolecules, not only disease’s symptoms can be eliminated, there may also be a good chance for the complete cure of the disease in the near future. Herein, we provide a comprehensive review delineating the therapeutic relationship between miRNAs and CRC. To this, various clinical aspects of miRNAs which act as a tumor suppressor and/or an oncogene, their underlying cellular processes and clinical outcomes, and, in particular, their effects and expression level changes in patients treated with chemo- and radiotherapy are discussed. Finally, based on the results deducted from scientific research studies, therapeutic opportunities based on targeting/utilizing miRNAs in the preclinical as well as clinical settings are highlighted.