The role of microRNAs in resistance to targeted treatments of non-small cell lung cancer

Purpose Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), accounting for the most of lung cancers, is usually diagnosed in advanced stage. Targeted treatments boost advanced NSCLC patients with certain mutations, but early drug resistance blocks the advantages of target medicine. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are regarded as a cluster of small noncoding and posttranscriptionally negative regulating RNAs. We want to explore the role of miRNAs in resistance to targeted treatments of NSCLC to improve the prognosis. Methods We reviewed recent studies about miRNAs and targeted treatment resistance in NSCLC and classified resistance into two types: EGFR-TKIs resistance and ALK-TKIs resistance. Results and conclusion Recent studies indicate that miRNAs involve in drug resistance possession in positive and negative manners. Inhibiting expression of certain miRNAs that promote drug resistance and increasing expression of miRNAs that reverse drug resistance may illuminate novel prospect of adjuvant targeted treatments in NSCLC.