Fenfen Guo,1 Hong Li,1 Jingjing Wang,1 Jiangfeng Wang,1 Jinling Zhang,1 Fanfang Kong,1 Zemin Zhang,2 Jinbao Zong1 

1Departments of Clinical Laboratory, Qingdao Hiser Hospital Affiliated of Qingdao University (Qingdao Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital), Qingdao, People’s Republic of China; 2Departments of Infectious Disease, Qingdao Women and Children’s Hospital, Qingdao, People’s Republic of China

Correspondence: Jinbao Zong, Email sdjinbaozong@163.com

Abstract: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors. Tumor immune microenvironment (TIME), angiogenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT), invasion, metastasis, metabolism, and drug resistance are the main factors affecting the development and treatment of tumors. MiRNAs play crucial roles in almost all major cellular biological processes. Studies have been carried out on miRNAs as biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Their dysregulation contributes to the progression and prognosis of HCC. This review aims to explore the molecular cascades and corresponding phenotypic changes caused by aberrant miRNA expression and their regulatory mechanisms, summarize and analyze novel biomarkers from somatic fluids (plasma/serum/urine), and highlight the latent capacity of miRNAs as therapeutic targets.

Keywords: hepatocellular carcinoma, microRNAs, regulatory mechanisms, biomarker, targeted therapy