The term non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) is used to refer to strands of RNA not involved in the coding of proteins, however, this shouldn’t mean we assume they have no functionality at all. In fact, recent evidence suggests that the majority of mammalian genomes are actually transcribed into these ncRNAs, which may, in turn, be processed into smaller cellular products. ncRNAs are still fairly novel with regard to oncological study, with a majority of ncRNAs still remaining to be identified, meaning the impact of research into this field is still unquantifiable.
It is already well established that mutation of genetic material is a frequent and prevalent factor in the development of tumorous and cancerous tissues, and the biology of oncological diseases as a whole; for instance mutation of the tumor suppressor gene p53 is observable in approximately half of all cancers diagnosed in humans.
ncRNAs are promising candidates for therapeutic interventions, since they are useful as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker or as key regulators of the cancer-gene network. Currently, observations have enabled us to understand their functions with regard to the promotion or antagonism of cancer oncogenes and tumor suppressing agents. However, the mechanisms that drive these effects remain to be seen. Understanding the link between these ncRNAs and the effects they elicit is imperative if we are to learn how these factors can be utilized in order to bring about new methods of therapeutic intervention and new treatment methods for cancers.
We welcome Original Research, leading-edge Reviews, and Clinical Trials related but not limited to the aspects below:
- New discoveries into how ncRNAs influence tumor growth and development
- Understandings of the molecular pathways that link ncRNAs to cancer
- Role of the ncRNAs in tumor heterogeneity and metastasis.
- Methods to utilize ncRNAs in therapeutics
Important Note: Manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics, computational analysis, or predictions of public databases which are not accompanied by validation (independent cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) will not be accepted in any of the sections of Frontiers in Oncology.
The term non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) is used to refer to strands of RNA not involved in the coding of proteins, however, this shouldn’t mean we assume they have no functionality at all. In fact, recent evidence suggests that the majority of mammalian genomes are actually transcribed into these ncRNAs, which may, in turn, be processed into smaller cellular products. ncRNAs are still fairly novel with regard to oncological study, with a majority of ncRNAs still remaining to be identified, meaning the impact of research into this field is still unquantifiable.
It is already well established that mutation of genetic material is a frequent and prevalent factor in the development of tumorous and cancerous tissues, and the biology of oncological diseases as a whole; for instance mutation of the tumor suppressor gene p53 is observable in approximately half of all cancers diagnosed in humans.
ncRNAs are promising candidates for therapeutic interventions, since they are useful as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker or as key regulators of the cancer-gene network. Currently, observations have enabled us to understand their functions with regard to the promotion or antagonism of cancer oncogenes and tumor suppressing agents. However, the mechanisms that drive these effects remain to be seen. Understanding the link between these ncRNAs and the effects they elicit is imperative if we are to learn how these factors can be utilized in order to bring about new methods of therapeutic intervention and new treatment methods for cancers.
We welcome Original Research, leading-edge Reviews, and Clinical Trials related but not limited to the aspects below:
- New discoveries into how ncRNAs influence tumor growth and development
- Understandings of the molecular pathways that link ncRNAs to cancer
- Role of the ncRNAs in tumor heterogeneity and metastasis.
- Methods to utilize ncRNAs in therapeutics
Important Note: Manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics, computational analysis, or predictions of public databases which are not accompanied by validation (independent cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) will not be accepted in any of the sections of Frontiers in Oncology.
