Effects of microRNA regulation on antiangiogenic therapy resistance. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in the process of resistance to antiangiogenic therapy. MiRNAs regulate resistance to antiangiogenic therapy through the VEGF pathway, alternative pro-angiogenic factors or channels, the tumor hypoxia environment, and ABC transporter family proteins. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is one of many miRNA target genes, and has attracted intense scrutiny in antiangiogenesis research.

Antiangiogenic drugs have become a standard therapeutic regimen for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); however, many issues remain to be solved. Identifying specific markers to predict patient response to antiangiogenic drugs to ensure therapeutic efficacy would increase their clinical benefit. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in the process of resistance to antiangiogenic therapy, as they regulate various key signaling pathways. Therefore, miRNAs may be used as targets for reversing tumor resistance to antiangiogenic therapy. This article reviews the molecular mechanisms of antiangiogenic therapy resistance and the specific mechanisms of miRNA regulation of resistance. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is one of multiple target genes of miRNAs, and is closely related to antiangiogenic research. Thus, it is described separately in this review article.