MicroRNAs as Master Regulators in Cervical Cancer Offering New Avenues for Diagnosis Prognosis and Targeted Therapy

As one of the most prevalent cancers affecting women worldwide, cervical cancer is especially prevalent in low- and middle-income nations. The chronic infection with high-risk strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV), particularly types 16 and 18, is the main contributing cause. The urgent need for more precise biomarkers is highlighted by the sensitivity and specificity limitations of current screening methods, such as the Pap smear and HPV DNA testing, which have helped with early detection and decreased mortality. Small non-coding RNA molecules called microRNAs (miRNAs), which post-transcriptionally control gene expression, have become important players in the study of cancer in recent years. They are known to alter vital cellular processes such invasion, immune response, metastasis, apoptosis, and proliferation. Cervical cancer has been linked to aberrant expression of particular miRNAs, which are becoming more and more linked to the development, course, and clinical results of the illness. While some miRNAs work as tumor suppressors, others are oncogenes (oncomiRs), which encourage the formation of tumors. Because of their dual function, they can be used as therapeutic targets in addition to being biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis. Furthermore, miRNAs' potential as non-invasive indicators is increased by their stability in bodily fluids including blood and cervical mucus. This review provides an overview of miRNA biogenesis and regulatory mechanisms, outlines the most significantly upregulated and downregulated miRNAs in cervical cancer, and discusses recent advances in miRNA-based therapeutic strategies. Understanding the molecular interplay between HPV infection and miRNA dysregulation may pave the way for the development of precision medicine tools, improving early detection, risk assessment, and personalized treatment in cervical cancer care.