the present invention provides a method of improving a therapeutic response to a cancer treatment , in a subject , the method comprising administering an effective amount of an agent that enhances the expression of microrna 29 or an agent that mimics the effects of microrna 29 . further provided is a method of treating a cancer in a subject in need of such treatment comprising the step of administering an effective amount of a microrna 29 or an agent that enhances the expression of microrna 29 .