About this Research Topic
The term “Non-coding RNAs” (ncRNAs) means functional RNA transcripts that are not translated into protein. Non-coding RNAs include a large number of highly abundant RNA molecules such as micro RNA (miRNA), small interfering RNA (siRNA), long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) and circular RNA (circRNA). The latter ncRNAs can actively modulate numerous molecular events, including gene transcription, RNA metabolism and protein homeostasis. There is emerging evidence indicating that ncRNAs can also extensively participate in a wide spectrum of cellular events, ranging from embryogenesis to tumorigenesis, and it is known that ncRNAs exert their regulatory roles through modulating various signaling pathways such as PI3K/Akt pathway and Wnt/β-catenin pathway.
It has been demonstrated that the Wnt/β-catenin pathway plays a fundamental role in cancer progression; frequently hyperactivated in many cancer types and therefore leading to unfavorable clinical outcomes. Recent investigations show that its aberrant expression in cancer might be attributed to the dysregulation of ncRNAs, and growing evidence indicates that ncRNAs play an essential role in orchestrating Wnt/β-catenin pathway. So far, a large number of miRNAs and lncRNAs have been reported to target Wnt/β-catenin pathway, contributing to the dysregulation of Wnt pathway in cancer cells. Nevertheless, the pharmacology and molecular pathogenesis of how these ncRNAs regulate tumorigenesis through Wnt/β-catenin pathway has not been fully elucidated. Thus, elucidating the link between ncRNAs and Wnt/β-catenin pathway might shed light on the underlying molecular mechanisms in human cancer and pave way for future drug development.
In terms of the pathological importance of ncRNAs and Wnt/β-catenin pathway in cancer progression, we launch this Research Topic for researchers. In this Research Topic, authors are welcome to submit their Original and Review articles on the following topics: (1) The role of ncRNAs in modulating Wnt/β-catenin pathway; (2) Development of small molecules targeting Wnt/β-catenin pathway. This Research Topic accepts a wide range of article types including, but not limited to, Original Research, Reviews, Opinions and Case Report.
It has been demonstrated that the Wnt/β-catenin pathway plays a fundamental role in cancer progression; frequently hyperactivated in many cancer types and therefore leading to unfavorable clinical outcomes. Recent investigations show that its aberrant expression in cancer might be attributed to the dysregulation of ncRNAs, and growing evidence indicates that ncRNAs play an essential role in orchestrating Wnt/β-catenin pathway. So far, a large number of miRNAs and lncRNAs have been reported to target Wnt/β-catenin pathway, contributing to the dysregulation of Wnt pathway in cancer cells. Nevertheless, the pharmacology and molecular pathogenesis of how these ncRNAs regulate tumorigenesis through Wnt/β-catenin pathway has not been fully elucidated. Thus, elucidating the link between ncRNAs and Wnt/β-catenin pathway might shed light on the underlying molecular mechanisms in human cancer and pave way for future drug development.
In terms of the pathological importance of ncRNAs and Wnt/β-catenin pathway in cancer progression, we launch this Research Topic for researchers. In this Research Topic, authors are welcome to submit their Original and Review articles on the following topics: (1) The role of ncRNAs in modulating Wnt/β-catenin pathway; (2) Development of small molecules targeting Wnt/β-catenin pathway. This Research Topic accepts a wide range of article types including, but not limited to, Original Research, Reviews, Opinions and Case Report.
Keywords: Wnt pathway, β-catenin, Cancer, Therapeutic target, ncRNA
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
