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MicroRNAs as Mediators of Tumor Cell State Transitions, Receptor Remodeling,...
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MicroRNAs as Mediators of Tumor Cell State Transitions, Receptor Remodeling, Drug Resistance, and Systemic Metastasis

A special issue of Biomedicines (ISSN 2227-9059). This special issue belongs to the section "Cancer Biology and Oncology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2025 | Viewed by 3722

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Vinitha Richard

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Discipline of Surgery, Lambe Institute for Translational Research, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
Interests: breast cancer; tumor pathogenesis; cancer stem cells; genomics; microRNAs; precision diagnostics; liquid biopsy
Prof. Dr. Michael J. Kerin

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Head of Discipline and Established Professor, Lambe Institute for Translational Research, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
Interests: translational medicine; precision oncology; breast cancer; microRNAs; liquid biopsy genomics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Solid epithelial tumors predominate among the most common cancers affecting the human population worldwide. Despite therapeutic advancements in precision medicine and strategic immunotherapy favoring a decline in mortality rates, the spontaneous emergence of undetected, therapy-resistant tumor variants markedly increases the overall risk of relapse and death. Heterogeneous clones that emerge randomly mid-therapy feature distinct traits, and their affinity for metastatic progression indicates a multi-gene network regulatory mechanism. An orchestrated gain or loss of regulatory molecular markers such as microRNAs, either as objective markers or in combination with other targeted genes and proteins, needs to be validated as an intermittent traceable alternative to the malignant status of tumors in situ. Such changes comprehensively represent the dysregulated molecular pathways in response to the tumor microenvironment and mediate the immune responsiveness of interacting cells in the tumor milieu. In addition, the presence of circulatory microRNAs tends to transiently alter this milieu, favoring the evolution of heterogeneous clones of resistant tumor cell variants. A spotlight on the effective mapping of the functionalities and timeliness of expression will address the therapeutic implications of microRNAs in restricting disease progression in solid epithelial tumors.

Dr. Vinitha Richard
Prof. Dr. Michael J. Kerin
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • solid epithelial tumors
  • cancer stem cells
  • microRNAs
  • epigenetics
  • cell state transitions
  • chemoresistance
  • immunosuppression
  • tumor microenvironment
  • metastasis

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

41 pages, 5389 KB  
Article
Diagnostic and Prognostic Roles of miR-155 and miR-3173 in Breast and Ovarian Cancer: Implications for Early Detection and Personalized Treatment
by Afaf Altrawy, Randa M. Talaat, Ghada M. Nasr, Eman A. E. Badr, Rebekka Arneth, Borros Arneth and Hussein Sabit
Biomedicines 2025, 13(7), 1604; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13071604 - 30 Jun 2025
Viewed by 654
Abstract
Objectives: The current study underscores the potential role of miRNAs, specifically miR-3173 and miR-155, as promising biomarkers for breast and ovarian cancers (BC and OC). The primary objective was to evaluate the expression levels of these miRNAs in cancer patients compared to healthy [...] Read more.
Objectives: The current study underscores the potential role of miRNAs, specifically miR-3173 and miR-155, as promising biomarkers for breast and ovarian cancers (BC and OC). The primary objective was to evaluate the expression levels of these miRNAs in cancer patients compared to healthy individuals, assess their diagnostic accuracy, and explore their associations with cancer progression and prognosis. Methods: This study involved 60 participants, comprising 30 patients diagnosed with primary BC and 30 patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Tumor tissue samples were obtained from all patients for molecular analysis. For control comparisons, adjacent non-tumorous tissues from both groups were utilized. miR-3173 and miR-155 expression levels were measured using real-time PCR (qPCR). The diagnostic accuracy of both miRNAs was evaluated through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, calculating sensitivity and specificity for distinguishing cancer cases from healthy controls. Additionally, the association of miR-155 with metastasis was explored, and miR-3173’s correlation with poor progression-free survival in BC patients was assessed using Kaplan–Meier survival curve analysis. Results: Both miRNAs were found to be significantly upregulated in cancer patients compared to healthy individuals, with miR-155 exhibiting high sensitivity and specificity for distinguishing BC and OC cases. Notably, miR-155 is associated with metastasis, which aligns with previous research, suggesting its role as an oncogene in epithelial OC. Meanwhile, the elevated expression of miR-3173 correlates with poor progression-free survival in BC patients, marking it as a potential prognostic marker. However, these results highlight the complexity of miRNA expression in cancer progression, as miR-3173 showed varied associations with different types of cancer. Despite these challenges, the ROC curve analysis for both miRNAs is promising with high sensitivity and specificity for both BC and OC. Conclusion: The study findings are particularly significant in the context of early diagnosis and monitoring cancer progression, yet further investigations involving larger cohorts and diverse populations are needed to validate these results. Future studies should focus on expanding sample sizes, refining the understanding of miRNA roles in tumor progression, and exploring their potential as therapeutic targets. These advancements could significantly enhance personalized treatment strategies for breast and ovarian cancer, improving patient outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue MicroRNAs as Mediators of Tumor Cell State Transitions, Receptor Remodeling, Drug Resistance, and Systemic Metastasis)
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13 pages, 2341 KB  
Article
Role of a Polyphenol-Enriched Blueberry Preparation on Inhibition of Melanoma Cancer Stem Cells and Modulation of MicroRNAs
by Nawal Alsadi, Nour Yahfoufi, Carolyn Nessim and Chantal Matar
Biomedicines 2024, 12(1), 193; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12010193 - 16 Jan 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2514
Abstract
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer known for its high mortality rate. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a subpopulation of cancer cells that significantly contribute to tumour recurrence and differentiation. Epigenetic-specific changes involving miRNAs maintain CSCs. Plant polyphenols have been reported to [...] Read more.
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer known for its high mortality rate. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a subpopulation of cancer cells that significantly contribute to tumour recurrence and differentiation. Epigenetic-specific changes involving miRNAs maintain CSCs. Plant polyphenols have been reported to be involved in cancer chemoprevention and chemotherapy, with miRNAs being the novel effectors in their biological activities. A polyphenol-enriched blueberry preparation (PEBP) derived from fermented blueberries has demonstrated promising chemopreventative properties on breast cancer stem cells by influencing inflammatory pathways and miRNAs. In our current investigation, we seek to unveil the impact of PEBP on inhibiting melanoma development and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Our study employs various human cell lines, including an ex vivo cell line derived from a patient’s metastatic tumour. We found that it elevates miR-200c, increasing E-cadherin expression and inhibiting miR-210-3p through NF-κB signalling, impacting Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT), a critical process in cancer progression. PEBP increases the SOCS1 expression, potentially contributing to miR-210-3p inhibition. Experiments involving miRNA manipulation confirm their functional roles. The study suggests that PEBP’s anti-inflammatory effects involve regulating miR-200c and miR-210 expression and their targets in EMT-related pathways. The overall aim is to provide evidence-based supportive care and preclinical evaluation of PEBP, offering a promising strategy for skin cancer chemoprevention. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue MicroRNAs as Mediators of Tumor Cell State Transitions, Receptor Remodeling, Drug Resistance, and Systemic Metastasis)
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