MicroRNA-143 (miR-143) is a non-coding RNA molecule that plays a critical regulatory role in various biological processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. This review summarizes the structural characteristics of miR-143 and its expression patterns in different tumor types, with a particular focus on cervical cancer, colon cancer, and lung cancer. In most malignancies, miR-143 is downregulated and functions as a tumor suppressor by targeting oncogenes and modulating key signaling pathways. However, emerging evidence suggests that miR-143 may exhibit dual roles depending on the tumor context, as seen in certain lung cancer studies where its elevated expression correlates with poor prognosis. The interaction between miR-143 and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) further expands its regulatory network and highlights its potential as a diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target. A deeper understanding of miR-143’s multifaceted functions may offer new insights into tumor biology and treatment strategies.
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