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The Role of miRNAs in Human Cancer
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The Role of miRNAs in Human Cancer

A special issue of Genes (ISSN 2073-4425). This special issue belongs to the section "Human Genomics and Genetic Diseases".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 December 2024) | Viewed by 3779

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Francesca Maria Orlandella

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Dipartimento di Scienze Motorie e del Benessere, Università degli studi di Napoli Parthenope, 80143 Naples, Italy
Interests: cancer; miRNA; LncRNA; biomarkers; diagnostic; targeted therapy
Dr. Peppino Mirabelli

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Clinical and Translational Research Unit, Santobono-Pausilipon Children’s Hospital, 80129 Naples, Italy
Interests: cancer; leukemia; flow cytometry; microRNA; lncRNA; Alzheimer’s disease
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of highly conserved noncoding RNA, are capable of regulating the expression of several target genes that play a pivotal role in the development and progression of a plethora of pathological conditions. In recent years, knowledge regarding the altered miRNA profile and the biological function of these small molecules in solid cancers and hematologic malignancies are steadily rising. miRNAs act as oncogenes or exert tumor suppressor properties, embodying potential therapeutic targets for the most aggressive form of cancer and leukemia.

The potential application of circulating miRNAs as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in liquid biopsy is currently under way, since they are stable and easily detectable in body fluid compared to other current methods. Meanwhile, sensitivity and specificity of isolation and detection miRNA techniques need to be improved.

Extracellular vesicles are the endogenous carriers of miRNAs which protect them from RNAse in blood and could represent potential natural vectors to deliver specific miRNA mimic or inhibitor in cancer tissues, thereby restoring their correct expression. 

This Special Issue cordially invites novel studies and review articles that address the peripheral blood miRNA profile to obtain an early tumor detection, thereby improving the diagnostic accuracy, and exploit their potential as novel therapeutic targets for personalized medicine.

Dr. Francesca Maria Orlandella
Dr. Peppino Mirabelli
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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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. Genes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2600 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.

Keywords

  • miRNAs
  • cancer
  • extracellular vesicles
  • leukemia
  • biomarkers
  • target therapy

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Review

12 pages, 1045 KiB  
Review
Aberrant Expression of Non-Coding RNAs in Pediatric T Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Their Potential Application as Biomarkers
by Neila Luciano, Luigi Coppola, Giuliana Salvatore, Pasquale Primo, Rosanna Parasole, Peppino Mirabelli and Francesca Maria Orlandella
Genes 2025, 16(4), 420; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16040420 - 31 Mar 2025
Viewed by 384
Abstract
Less than 5% of the DNA sequence encodes for proteins, and the remainder encodes for non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). Among the members of the ncRNA family, microRNAs (miRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a pivotal role in the insurgence and progression of several [...] Read more.
Less than 5% of the DNA sequence encodes for proteins, and the remainder encodes for non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). Among the members of the ncRNA family, microRNAs (miRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a pivotal role in the insurgence and progression of several cancers, including leukemia. Thought to have different molecular mechanisms, both miRNAs and lncRNAs act as epigenetic factors modulating gene expression and influencing hematopoietic differentiation, proliferation and immune system function. Here, we discuss the most recent findings on the main molecular mechanisms by which miRNAs and lncRNAs are involved in the pathogenesis and progression of pediatric T acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), pointing out their potential utility as therapeutic targets and as biomarkers for early diagnosis, risk stratification and prognosis. miRNAs are involved in the pathogenesis of T-ALL, acting both as tumor suppressors and as oncomiRs. By contrast, to the best of our knowledge, the literature highlights lncRNAs as acting only as oncogenes in this type of cancer by inhibiting apoptosis and promoting cell cycle and drug resistance. Additionally, here, we discuss how these molecules could be detected in the plasma of T-ALL patients, highlighting that lncRNAs may represent a new class of promising accurate and sensitive biomarkers in these young patients. Thus, the unveiling of the aberrant signature of circulating and intracellular levels of lncRNAs could have great clinical utility for obtaining a more accurate definition of prognosis and uncovering novel therapeutic strategies against T-ALL in children. However, further investigations are needed to better define the standard methodological procedure for their quantification and to obtain their specific targeting in T-ALL pediatric patients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of miRNAs in Human Cancer)
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15 pages, 1881 KiB  
Review
MicroRNAs in the Mitochondria–Telomere Axis: Novel Insights into Cancer Development and Potential Therapeutic Targets
by José Alfonso Cruz-Ramos, Emmanuel de la Mora-Jiménez, Beatriz Alejandra Llanes-Cervantes and Miguel Ángel Damián-Mejía
Genes 2025, 16(3), 268; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16030268 - 25 Feb 2025
Viewed by 1107
Abstract
The mitochondria–telomere axis is recognized as an important factor in the processes of metabolism, aging and oncogenesis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an essential function in this complex interaction, having an impact on aspects such as cellular homeostasis, oxidative responses and apoptosis. In [...] Read more.
The mitochondria–telomere axis is recognized as an important factor in the processes of metabolism, aging and oncogenesis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an essential function in this complex interaction, having an impact on aspects such as cellular homeostasis, oxidative responses and apoptosis. In recent years, miRNAs have been found to be crucial for telomeric stability, as well as for mitochondrial behavior, factors that influence cell proliferation and viability. Furthermore, mitochondrial miRNAs (mitomiRs) are associated with gene expression and the activity of the cGAS/STING pathway activity, linking mitochondrial DNA recognition to immune system responses. Hence, miRNAs maintain a link to mitochondrial biogenesis, metabolic changes in cancer and cellular organelles. This review focuses on the roles of a variety of miRNAs in cancer progression and their potential application as biomarkers or therapeutic agents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of miRNAs in Human Cancer)
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17 pages, 1016 KiB  
Review
The Role of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in MicroRNA Genes in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas: Susceptibility and Prognosis
by Elżbieta Szmida, Dorota Butkiewicz, Paweł Karpiński, Tomasz Rutkowski, Małgorzata Oczko-Wojciechowska and Maria Małgorzata Sąsiadek
Genes 2024, 15(9), 1226; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes15091226 - 20 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1627
Abstract
Background: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide. The identification of molecular alterations adding to the individual risk of HNSCC development and progression is one of the most important challenges in studies on cancer genetics. [...] Read more.
Background: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide. The identification of molecular alterations adding to the individual risk of HNSCC development and progression is one of the most important challenges in studies on cancer genetics. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), which belong to the group of important post-transcriptional regulators of human gene expression, seem to be valuable options for consideration as key modifiers of individual cancer risk, and therefore may be helpful in predicting inter-individual differences in cancer risk, response to treatment and prognosis. Methods: There have not been many studies focused on the relationship between miRNA variants and HNSCC published in PubMed within the last 15 years. We found and analyzed 30 reviews, meta-analyses and research papers and revealed 14 SNPs which have been reported as significant in the context of HNSCC susceptibility and/or prognosis. Results: These 14 SNPs were located in 13 separate miRNAs. Among them, four were the most frequently studied (miRNA-146, -196, -149 and -499) and have been shown to have the greatest impact on the course of HNSCC. However, the presented results have been conflicting. Conclusions: It must be concluded that, despite the years of studies, there are no conclusive reports demonstrating a significant role of SNPs in miRNAs in the context of the susceptibility to HNSCC or its prognosis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of miRNAs in Human Cancer)
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