Tumor Suppressor p53 and MicroRNAs Interaction in Breast Cancer

This literature review explores the complex interaction between p53 and microRNAs (miRNAs) in the occurrence and progression of breast cancer (BC), the most common and lethal tumor type among women. BC is a multifactorial disease resulting from a combination of genetic and epigenetic alterations in cell DNA, influencing proliferation, differentiation, and migration. TP53 gene, which codifies p53 protein, is a known tumor suppressor, and it plays an important role in cell maintenance as DNA repair, cell proliferation control, and apoptosis activation. TP53 expression can be modulated by several miRNAs, as miR-30c, miR-34a, and the miR-200 family, inhibiting p53 production and silencing its tumor suppressor effects. On the other hand, p53 protein can modulate several miRNAs expression, as miR-146a, miR-192, and the miR-200 family, by acting as a transcription factor or by modulating miRNA processing, interfering with BC aggressiveness and progression. Understanding the role of p53 and miRNAs in BC may aid in identifying new biomarkers and developing new targeted therapies for patient treatment.