The emerging role of miRNAs in combined cancer therapy.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) control physiological and fundamental processes in cellular development and differentiation by modulating the expression of their target genes. They have been found to participate in cell transformation and multiplication by functioning as oncomiRs and tumor suppressors in diverse cancers. Introduction of antisense miRNAs (antagomiRs) into primary cells such as immune cells by lipofection, viral vectors or electroporation can achieve the specific silencing of individual miRNAs. Therefore, harnessing miRNAs may lead to promising cancer therapeutics. There is emerging evidence demonstrating the involvement of miRNAs in combined cancer therapies, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy combining with miRNA therapy.