Unlike protein-coding RNAs, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) comprise the vast majority of primary transcripts generated by genomic transcription. These so-called transcriptional ‘dark matter’ are critical factors in maintaining normal physiological functions and developing human cancers. Based on size, ncRNAs can be divided into two groups: 1) small ncRNAs (<200 nt), such as microRNA (miRNA; 16-23 nt), endogenous small interfering RNA (endo-siRNA; 21 nt) and piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA; 26-31 nt); 2) long ncRNAs (lncRNA; >200 nt). The unconventional role of ncRNAs in gene expression regulation and their comprehensive implication in oncogenic and tumor-suppressive pathways have implicated ncRNAs as novel biomarkers or therapeutic targets for cancers. The clinical judgment has been dramatically improved by combining different ncRNA candidates with conventional biomarkers. The most representative application of ncRNAs in clinical oncology is prostate cancer antigen 3 (PCA3), an FDA-approved long ncRNA regulating prostate cancer progression.
In regard to Gastrointestinal (GI) cancer, including cancer of the esophagus, stomach, liver, bile duct, gallbladder, pancreas, colon, appendix or rectum, represents a class of most common and aggressive malignancies. Even though the deregulated expression of ncRNAs has been implicated in the progression, metastasis, and recurrence of these tumors, the mechanisms underlying GI cancer tumorigenesis and progression remain to be elucidated.
Increasing evidence has implicated that deregulated ncRNAs are involved in the initiation and progression of various cancers, including GI cancer, through epigenetic, transcriptional, and post-transcriptional alterations. In this Research Topic, we focus on the emerging role of ncRNAs, its dysregulation in the initiation and progression of GI cancers, along with the potential application of these advancements in designing more effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for GI cancer.
This Research Topic will cover the clinicopathological significance of ncRNA in GI cancers. We welcome the submissions of Review, Mini-Review and Original Research articles covering, but not limited to, the following topics:
· Diagnostic potential of non-coding RNAs in GI cancers
· Gene regulatory roles of lncRNA and miRNA in GI cancers
· RNA editing and its therapeutic potential in GI cancers
· Aberrant RNA splicing as a therapeutic vulnerability in GI cancers
Please note: manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics or computational analysis of public genomic or transcriptomic databases which are not accompanied by validation (independent cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) are out of scope for this section and will not be accepted as part of this Research Topic.
Unlike protein-coding RNAs, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) comprise the vast majority of primary transcripts generated by genomic transcription. These so-called transcriptional ‘dark matter’ are critical factors in maintaining normal physiological functions and developing human cancers. Based on size, ncRNAs can be divided into two groups: 1) small ncRNAs (<200 nt), such as microRNA (miRNA; 16-23 nt), endogenous small interfering RNA (endo-siRNA; 21 nt) and piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA; 26-31 nt); 2) long ncRNAs (lncRNA; >200 nt). The unconventional role of ncRNAs in gene expression regulation and their comprehensive implication in oncogenic and tumor-suppressive pathways have implicated ncRNAs as novel biomarkers or therapeutic targets for cancers. The clinical judgment has been dramatically improved by combining different ncRNA candidates with conventional biomarkers. The most representative application of ncRNAs in clinical oncology is prostate cancer antigen 3 (PCA3), an FDA-approved long ncRNA regulating prostate cancer progression.
In regard to Gastrointestinal (GI) cancer, including cancer of the esophagus, stomach, liver, bile duct, gallbladder, pancreas, colon, appendix or rectum, represents a class of most common and aggressive malignancies. Even though the deregulated expression of ncRNAs has been implicated in the progression, metastasis, and recurrence of these tumors, the mechanisms underlying GI cancer tumorigenesis and progression remain to be elucidated.
Increasing evidence has implicated that deregulated ncRNAs are involved in the initiation and progression of various cancers, including GI cancer, through epigenetic, transcriptional, and post-transcriptional alterations. In this Research Topic, we focus on the emerging role of ncRNAs, its dysregulation in the initiation and progression of GI cancers, along with the potential application of these advancements in designing more effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for GI cancer.
This Research Topic will cover the clinicopathological significance of ncRNA in GI cancers. We welcome the submissions of Review, Mini-Review and Original Research articles covering, but not limited to, the following topics:
· Diagnostic potential of non-coding RNAs in GI cancers
· Gene regulatory roles of lncRNA and miRNA in GI cancers
· RNA editing and its therapeutic potential in GI cancers
· Aberrant RNA splicing as a therapeutic vulnerability in GI cancers
Please note: manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics or computational analysis of public genomic or transcriptomic databases which are not accompanied by validation (independent cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) are out of scope for this section and will not be accepted as part of this Research Topic.
