Non-Coding RNAs as Key Players in Cancer Biology and Clinical Translation
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Oncology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 161
Special Issue Editors
2. Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR)—Group of Environmental Genetics of Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
3. Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
Interests: hematologic diseases; oncobiology; oncogenetics/epigenetics; nutrition; drug resistance; DNA damage repair; cancer metabolism; targeted therapies; translational research; personalized oncology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
2. Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR)—Group of Environmental Genetics of Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
3. Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
Interests: oncobiology; hematological neoplasms; drug resistance; disease biomarkers; therapy response; targeted therapies; RNAs; translational research
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
2. Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR)—Group of Environmental Genetics of Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
3. Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
Interests: hematological neoplasms; oncobiology; drug resistance; disease biomarkers; therapy response; targeted therapies; translational research
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have emerged as central regulators of cancer biology, acting as oncogenes or tumor suppressors by modulating gene expression at multiple regulatory levels. By influencing key cellular processes such as proliferation, apoptosis, metastasis, immune evasion, and therapeutic response, ncRNAs play critical roles in tumor initiation and progression. Their stability and specificity in tissues and biological fluids further position ncRNAs as promising non-invasive biomarkers for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and disease monitoring. In parallel, ncRNAs are increasingly explored as therapeutic targets, with innovative strategies aimed at inhibiting oncogenic ncRNAs or restoring tumor-suppressive functions using antisense oligonucleotides, RNA mimics, and other RNA-based approaches.
We are pleased to invite you to contribute to the Special Issue titled, “Non-Coding RNAs as Key Players in Cancer Biology and Clinical Translation”. This Special Issue aims to highlight recent molecular, translational, and technological advances that improve our understanding of non-coding RNA (ncRNA) biology in cancer and support their integration into precision oncology. It provides a comprehensive and multidisciplinary platform for original research articles and high-quality reviews addressing the functional roles of ncRNAs in tumor biology and their translation into clinical applications. Contributions elucidating the molecular mechanisms by which ncRNAs regulate tumor initiation, progression, and therapeutic response, as well as their potential as diagnostic, prognostic, or predictive biomarkers and therapeutic targets, are particularly encouraged.
Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
- Epigenetic regulation mediated by non-coding RNAs in cancer;
- ncRNA interactions in oncogenic regulatory networks;
- Roles of ncRNAs in genomic instability and DNA damage response;
- Emerging roles of lncRNAs, circRNAs, piRNAs, and snoRNAs in cancer;
- Mitochondrial ncRNAs and metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells;
- ncRNAs in tumor-microenvironment interactions and immune modulation;
- ncRNAs as diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive biomarkers in oncology;
- Liquid biopsy-based detection of ncRNAs in cancer;
- ncRNAs as determinants of therapeutic response and resistance;
- ncRNA signatures for patient stratification and precision oncology.
- ncRNA-based therapeutics, including miRNA mimics, antagomiRs, and RNA interference approaches;
- Combination strategies integrating ncRNA-based therapies with chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy;
- Delivery systems for ncRNA therapeutics, including nanoparticles, viral vectors, and exosomes.
We look forward to receiving your contributions.
Dr. Ana Cristina Gonçalves
Dr. Raquel Alves
Prof. Dr. Ana Bela Sarmento Ribeiro
Guest Editors
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
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. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. 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
- non-coding RNAs
- microRNAs
- long non-coding RNAs
- circular RNAs
- RNA-based therapeutics
- RNA delivery
- systems
- liquid biopsy
- predictive biomarkers
- drug resistance
- clinical translation
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
