The Role of MicroRNAs in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: From Tumorigenesis to Biomarker Applications

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major global health burden and is often diagnosed at an advanced stage, when curative treatment options are limited.Current surveillance strategies, including ultrasonography and serum alpha-fetoprotein measurement, lack sufficient sensitivity and specificity, highlighting the urgent need for improved biomarkers.MicroRNAs (miRNAs), small noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression at the posttranscriptional level, have emerged as key regulators of hepatocarcinogenesis. Their dysregulation contributes to tumor growth, resistance to cell death, and metastasis, with some miRNAs serving as oncogenes and others as tumor suppressors.Circulating miRNAs have emerged as promising diagnostic biomarkers because of their stability in body fluids and tissue-specific expression patterns.In addition, they provide valuable prognostic information by reflecting tumor behavior and response to treatment.This review summarizes the roles of miRNAs in HCC pathogenesis and discusses their potential clinical applications in HCC diagnosis and prognosis.