Therapeutic Targeting of MicroRNAs in Human Cancer

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to our upcoming Special Issue, entitled “Therapeutic Targeting of MicroRNAs in Human Cancer.” As our knowledge of microRNAs (miRNAs) continues to expand, new research has revealed their profound and context-dependent roles in shaping tumor biology, therapy response, and the tumor microenvironment. In addition to their well-established influence on proliferation, apoptosis, and metastasis, miRNAs are now recognized as critical regulators of immune evasion, metabolic reprogramming, and therapeutic resistance.

This Special Issue provides an exciting opportunity to showcase original research and critical reviews that explore the next generation of miRNA-based cancer therapies. In this contribution, we aim to highlight emerging therapeutic strategies that integrate spatial biology, nanomedicine, and RNA technologies to overcome key barriers in the clinical translation of miRNA therapeutics. Areas of focus will include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Targeted Delivery Systems: Advances in nanoparticle platforms—including lipid-based nanoparticles (LNPs), polymer conjugates, and engineered exosomes—enable a targeted and efficient delivery of miRNA mimics and inhibitors to tumors, improving their bioavailability and reducing systemic toxicity.
• CRISPR and mRNA Technologies: Genome and transcriptome editing tools, including CRISPR-Cas systems and synthetic mRNA vectors, offer novel strategies for modulating miRNA expression with spatial and temporal control, either by editing miRNA loci or delivering pri-/pre-miRNA transcripts.
• Spatial miRNomics and Tumor Microenvironment Profiling: The integration of spatial transcriptomics and single-exosome profiling has revealed heterogeneous miRNA expression across tumor ecosystems. This spatial information is essential for designing precision-targeted miRNA interventions adapted to the local microenvironment.
• Combination Therapeutic Strategies: miRNA-based approaches hold promise in enhancing the efficacy of existing treatments. Combination therapies involving miRNA mimics or inhibitors alongside immunotherapy, chemotherapy, or metabolic pathway modulators are being actively explored to reverse resistance mechanisms and improve patient outcomes.
• Therapeutic Candidates and Translation: The development and preclinical evaluation of key miRNA candidates—including miR-122, miR-15/16, miR-34a, etc.—illustrate both the promise and the challenges of bringing miRNA therapeutics closer to clinical application.

By bringing together interdisciplinary insights and state-of-the-art advances, this contribution aims to enrich the ongoing scientific dialogue and support the rational development of miRNA-targeted therapies. We hope that the papers submitted to this Special Issue will offer new data, deepen our mechanistic understanding, and collectively push the field toward more effective, personalized cancer treatments.

We look forward to the submission of high-quality original articles and comprehensive reviews that expand the frontiers of miRNA-based therapeutic strategies in cancer. Together, through the insights and innovations shared across this issue, we aim to accelerate progress in the translation of miRNA science into clinical impact.

Dr. Behzad Mansoori
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Cells is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• microRNAs
• nanoparticle platforms
• spatial miRNomics
• combination therapeutic strategies