Table 3 The function of microRNAs in lung cancer (SCLC and NSCLC). miRNAs can regulate lung cancer cells by targeting various genes. This regulation of miRNAs includes upregulation as well as downregulation

let-7 family

K-RAS, CDC25A, CDK6, cyclin D, LIN28, MYC, HMGA2, HOXA9, TGFBR1, BCL-2, MAP4K3, FUS1

NSCLC

A decrease of let-7 in cancer cells leads to accelerated tumor growth, and the let-7 expression amount in serum shows cancer cell development.

[139, 140]

miR-15 family

PEBP4, TRAIL

NSCLC

miR-15 family was able to suppress cell development and stimulate apoptosis.

[141]

miR-25

Cyclin E2, CDK2

NSCLC/SCLC

miR-25 downregulation effect on SCLC growth and overexpression in NSCLC.

[142, 143]

miR-27a

Sprouty2, EGFR, c-MET

SCLC

MiR-27a was continuously reduced in sphere-creating cells.

[142]

miR-31

TSP-1, LATS2, PPP2R2A

NSCLC

A decrease in miR-31 expression increases lung cancer cell proliferation and migration.

[113, 142]

miR-34 family

MET, MYC, BCL2, E2F3, SIRT1/p53

NSCLC

miR-34b has low concentrations in NSCLC tissues.

[142]

miR-17-92 cluster

HIF-1a, PTEN, BCL2L11, CDKNA, RB

NSCLC/SCLC

miR-17-92 is upregulated in lung tumors and augments the number of cancer cells.

[142]

miR-126

Crk, VEGFA, SLC7A5

SCLC

Upregulation of miR-126 has a negative influence on SCLC cell proliferation and development.

[142, 144]

miR-130

PTEN

NSCLC

miR-130 has a tumor inhibitory effect on the tumorigenesis of NSCLC via targeting PTEN.

[145]

miR-138

H2AX

NSCLC/SCLC

miR-138 is considerably downregulated in SCLC tumors.

[142]

miR-155

Hexokinase 2, APAf-1, TCF4, TF

NSCLC

miR-155 levels are elevated in NSCLC, and upregulation of miR-155 considerably enhanced A549 cell development.

[139, 140, 142, 146]

miR-181

Bcl-2

NSCLC

miR-181 is a tumor suppressor that targets Bcl-2 expression.

[147]

miR-182

RGSIV

NSCLC

miR-182 is overexpressed in NSCLC and is an oncomiR to increase tumor cell proliferation.

[142]

miR-184

c-Myc

SCLC

miR-184, as a tumor suppressor, prevents cancer cell development and metastasis. Decreased miR-184 rate may forecast a worse prognosis in NSCLC patients.

[141]

miR-197

Fus1, p53

NSCLC

Increased miR-197 expression is associated with decreased Fus1 expression in NSCLC.

[148, 149]

miR-200 family

ZEB, E-cadherin, vimentin, Foxf2, NFkB, ETAR, SMAD3

NSCLC

miR-200 family by targeting oncogenes led to increased metastasis in NSCLC.

[141, 142]

miR-494

IGF2BP1, PTEN

NSCLC

Increased miR-494 expression is related to increased proliferation, decreased differentiation of tumor tissues, and increased feasibility of initial invasion and metastasis.

[139, 142]

miR-520a-3p

HOXD8, MAP3K2

NSCLC/SCLC

miR-520a-3p can induce apoptosis of cancer cells and suppress tumor stem cell phenotype in NSCLC and SCLC.

[150]

miR-574-5p

PTPRU, EPAS1

SCLC

miR-574-5p improved considerably and decreased the metastasis of SCLC.

[151]

miR-1827

RBX1, CRKL

SCLC

miR-1827 regulates lung cancer cell invasion and migration by EMT.

[137]

miR-21

EGFR, PTEN

NSCLC

miR-21 post-transcriptionally downregulates the expression of tumor suppressor PTEN and induces growth and invasion in NSCLC.

[152]