About this Research Topic
Head and Neck Cancers (HNC) are a major global health problem, with the majority of cases being squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), including epithelial malignancies of the upper aerodigestive tract (oral cavity, oropharynx, pharynx, hypopharynx, larynx, and thyroid). Due to the multifunctional anatomical intricacies of the head and neck, disease progression and therapy-related side effects often severely impair the patient’s appearance and self-image, and the ability to breathe, speak, and swallow. Patients with HNC require multidisciplinary therapy involving surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Clinically, more than 65% of HNC patients are diagnosed with advanced stages due to lack of early diagnosis. Although great progress has been made in the treatment of HNC, the overall survival rate remains unsatisfactory. There is increasing evidence that RNA modification plays a major role in the initiation and progression of HNC, and is partially associated with diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of HNC patients.
RNA modification is one of the new hotspots in the field of epigenetics, such as N6-methyladenosine (m6A), 5-methylcytosine (m5C), N1-methyladenosine (m1A) and pseudouridylation (ψ). It has attracted significant attention from researchers in the fields of tumorigenesis and development. Previous studies have confirmed that dysregulation of RNA modification regulators can be detected in precancerous lesions, indicating their potential as biomarkers for the early diagnosis of cancer. The abnormal expression of RNA modification regulators may lead to dysregulated expression of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes that may contribute to cancer progression and patient response to chemoradiotherapy of HNC. For instance, dysregulation of m6A modification might account for aberrant expression of oncogenic lncRNA LNCAROD, which is associated with advanced T stage and shortened overall survival in HNSCC.
RNA modification plays an important role in the initiation and progression of cancer. This Research Topic focuses on understanding the functions of RNA modification in HNC, particularly in proliferation, migration and invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), chemoradiotherapy resistance, cancer stem cell, cellular metabolic regulation, and process of autophagy as well as their clinical implications in the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of HNC patients. We welcome Original Research, Review and Mini Review articles.
RNA modification is one of the new hotspots in the field of epigenetics, such as N6-methyladenosine (m6A), 5-methylcytosine (m5C), N1-methyladenosine (m1A) and pseudouridylation (ψ). It has attracted significant attention from researchers in the fields of tumorigenesis and development. Previous studies have confirmed that dysregulation of RNA modification regulators can be detected in precancerous lesions, indicating their potential as biomarkers for the early diagnosis of cancer. The abnormal expression of RNA modification regulators may lead to dysregulated expression of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes that may contribute to cancer progression and patient response to chemoradiotherapy of HNC. For instance, dysregulation of m6A modification might account for aberrant expression of oncogenic lncRNA LNCAROD, which is associated with advanced T stage and shortened overall survival in HNSCC.
RNA modification plays an important role in the initiation and progression of cancer. This Research Topic focuses on understanding the functions of RNA modification in HNC, particularly in proliferation, migration and invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), chemoradiotherapy resistance, cancer stem cell, cellular metabolic regulation, and process of autophagy as well as their clinical implications in the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of HNC patients. We welcome Original Research, Review and Mini Review articles.
Keywords: Head and Neck Cancer, RNA modification, m6A, m5C, m1A
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