MicroRNA Dysregulation in HPV-Driven Cervical Cancer: A Review of Oncoprotein-Targeted Signaling Pathways

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been associated with the initiation, development, and progression of various cancers, including cervical cancer. Their involvement in cervical cancer is extensively documented, as they influence critical biological pathways, including apoptosis, cell cycle progression, immune evasion, and metastasis. In cervical cancer, deregulated miRNA expression contributes to tumor aggressiveness by interfering with key molecular pathways, many of which are also influenced by high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) oncoproteins. In this review, we highlight key signaling pathways regulated by miRNAs linked to cancer hallmarks, particularly sustained proliferative signaling, which was the most frequently affected pathway across the studies reviewed. Furthermore, the interplay among HPV oncoproteins, dysregulated miRNA expression, and altered signaling pathways drives key oncogenic processes, including uncontrolled proliferation, evasion of apoptosis, and metastasis.