MicroRNA polymorphisms as markers of risk, prognosis and treatment response in hematological malignancies

• We provide an overview of microRNA polymorphisms in hematological malignancies.
• MiRSNPs emerge as novel markers of risk and prognosis in hematological cancers.
• Functional significance of miRSNPs still needs to be elucidated.

MicroRNA dysregulation is a common event in hematological malignancies. Apart from genomic and epigenetic alterations, miRNA networks may be disturbed by polymorphisms in the miRNA regulatory pathway (miRSNPs). In this review we provide an overview of three categories of miRSNPs: (1) SNPs in genes involved in miRNA biogenesis and processing; (2) SNPs in miRNA genes; and (3) SNPs in miRNA binding sites in target genes and discuss their potential role as markers of disease risk, prognosis and treatment response in hematological cancers. Although so far only the tip of the iceberg has been touched, studies of polymorphisms in the miRNA regulatory pathways have already provided some clues for the mechanisms of miRNA dysregulation in cancer and open new perspectives in the management of hematological malignancies.