miRNAs are short non-coding RNA molecules that regulate the expression of mRNA post-transcriptionally. MiRNAs that are secreted into the circulation, also termed circulating miRNAs, have been studied extensively for their roles in diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of human breast cancer. Breast cancer is the most prevalent female cancer and is associated with key cancer hallmarks including sustained proliferation, evasion of apoptosis, increased invasion, enhanced metastases, initation of inflammation, induction of angiogenesis, metabolic derangement and immune dysregulation. This review aimed to explore the relationships between circulating miRNAs and different breast cancer hallmarks. Besides, the advantages, challenges and clinical application of using circulating miRNAs in human breast cancer management were also discussed.

miRNA是短的非编码RNA分子，可转录后调节mRNA的表达。分泌到循环系统中的miRNA（也称为循环miRNA）已经广泛研究了其在人类乳腺癌的诊断，治疗和预后中的作用。乳腺癌是最普遍的女性癌症，并与关键的癌症标志有关，包括持续的增殖，细胞凋亡的逃避，侵袭的增加，转移的增强，炎症的诱发，血管新生的诱导，代谢紊乱和免疫失调。这篇综述旨在探讨循环miRNA与不同乳腺癌标志之间的关系。此外，还讨论了使用循环miRNAs在人类乳腺癌管理中的优势，挑战和临床应用。