Regulation of ErbB receptor signalling in cancer cells by microRNA

Recent years have seen a massive expansion in our understanding of the biology of microRNAs (miRNAs) in cancer, through the identification of miRNAs with aberrant expression in specific cancers and the functional validation of their critical target molecules and cellular effects. In parallel, targeted therapeutic agents to block signalling pathways critical to tumour growth and progression have been developed but have yielded disappointing clinical results. The discovery of miRNAs that regulate ErbB signalling in cancer cells brings new hope that in the future these oncogenic pathways can be more effectively inhibited to improve patient outcomes.