About this Research Topic
Growing evidence demonstrates that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) could affect cancer development and progression via regulating chromatin remodeling, RNA polymerase II binding to promoter, mRNA splicing, RNA interference, protein stability and location, and more. The crosstalk among long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs) also plays a key regulatory role in the progression of cancer. The ncRNAs contribute to the progression of various types of cancer via their downstream signaling pathways, including p53, HIFα, TGF/SMAD and Wnt/β-catenin. Evidence has shown that the addition of natural compounds in ncRNA targeted cancer therapies could lead to better anti-cancer outcomes. For example, it has been reported that increased expression of miR-326 contributes to a marked enhancement of curcumin-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis in glioma cells, whereas down-regulating the expression of long ncRNA PANDAR in combination treatment with curcumin increases apoptosis and attenuate senescence in colorectal cancer. Additionally, nanocarriers incorporating berberine and miR-122 have a promising anti-tumor effect on oral squamous cell carcinoma.
Primary or acquired resistance to chemotherapeutic and biologic agents remains a key challenge in cancer treatment, and as studies show, it might be due to the presence of intra-tumoral heterogeneity, factors of which include interactions with the microenvironment and the presence of cancer stem cells. NcRNAs participate in the establishment of cancer stem cells and microenvironment remodeling, and many natural compounds have been shown to have therapeutic functions there. This is something, however, we need to work towards clarifying.
This Research Topic aims to uncover the underlying mechanisms of ncRNAs in maximizing the efficacy and minimizing the side effects of natural compounds (such as curcumin, lycopene, and apigenin) in cancer treatment.
We welcome Original Research articles, Reviews and Mini Reviews focusing on, but not limited to:
- Molecular pathways that assist ncRNAs to enhance the efficacy of natural compounds in cancer treatment;
- The cross-talk among miRNA, lncRNA and circRNA to enhance the efficacy of natural compounds in cancer treatment;
- The role of ncRNAs and natural compounds in remodeling cancer stem cells and tumor microenvironment
Primary or acquired resistance to chemotherapeutic and biologic agents remains a key challenge in cancer treatment, and as studies show, it might be due to the presence of intra-tumoral heterogeneity, factors of which include interactions with the microenvironment and the presence of cancer stem cells. NcRNAs participate in the establishment of cancer stem cells and microenvironment remodeling, and many natural compounds have been shown to have therapeutic functions there. This is something, however, we need to work towards clarifying.
This Research Topic aims to uncover the underlying mechanisms of ncRNAs in maximizing the efficacy and minimizing the side effects of natural compounds (such as curcumin, lycopene, and apigenin) in cancer treatment.
We welcome Original Research articles, Reviews and Mini Reviews focusing on, but not limited to:
- Molecular pathways that assist ncRNAs to enhance the efficacy of natural compounds in cancer treatment;
- The cross-talk among miRNA, lncRNA and circRNA to enhance the efficacy of natural compounds in cancer treatment;
- The role of ncRNAs and natural compounds in remodeling cancer stem cells and tumor microenvironment
Keywords: Natural products, cancer, non-coding RNA, therapeutic sensitivity, molecular pathway
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.
