Several
phytochemicals have been identified for their role in modifying
miRNA regulating
tumor progression.
miRNAs modulate the expression of several oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes including the genes that regulate
tumor angiogenesis.
Hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) signaling is a central axis that activates oncogenic signaling and acts as a metabolic switch in endothelial cell (EC) driven
tumor angiogenesis.
Tumor angiogenesis driven by metabolic reprogramming of EC is crucial for
tumor progression and
metastasis in many different
cancers, including breast
cancers, and has been linked to aberrant
miRNA expression profiles. In the current article, we identify different
miRNAs that regulate
tumor angiogenesis in the context of oncogenic signaling and metabolic reprogramming in ECs and review how selected
phytochemicals could modulate
miRNA levels to induce an anti-angiogenic action in
breast cancer. Studies involving
genistein,
epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and
resveratrol demonstrate the regulation of miRNA-21,
miRNA-221/222 and miRNA-27, which are prognostic markers in
triple negative breast cancers (TNBCs). Modulating the metabolic pathway is a novel strategy for controlling
tumor angiogenesis and
tumor growth.
Cardamonin,
curcumin and
resveratrol exhibit their anti-angiogenic property by targeting the
miRNAs that regulate EC metabolism. Here we suggest that using
phytochemicals to target
miRNAs, which in turn suppresses
tumor angiogenesis, should have the potential to inhibit
tumor growth, progression, invasion and
metastasis and may be developed into an effective therapeutic strategy for the treatment of many different
cancers where
tumor angiogenesis plays a significant role in
tumor growth and progression.