MicroRNA (miRNA) Technology in Cancer
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: 20 November 2025 | Viewed by 676
Special Issue Editor
2. Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
Interests: non-coding RNA; genomic; microRNA; miRNA; oncology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
MicroRNA (miRNA) technology has emerged as a pivotal tool in cancer research, offering profound insights into tumor biology and therapeutic strategies. miRNAs are small, non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally by binding to target messenger RNAs (mRNAs), leading to their degradation or translation inhibition. Aberrant miRNA expression is a hallmark of cancer, influencing critical processes such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and metastasis.
In cancer, miRNAs can act as oncogenes (oncomiRs) or tumor suppressors, depending on their target genes. For instance, miR-21 is frequently upregulated in various cancers and promotes tumor progression by targeting tumor suppressor genes, whereas miR-34a, a tumor suppressor, is often downregulated. This dual role makes miRNAs attractive candidates for both biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
Advances in miRNA technology have facilitated the development of miRNA mimics and antagomirs (anti-miRNA oligonucleotides) for therapeutic purposes. miRNA-based diagnostics, using liquid biopsies, enable non-invasive cancer detection and monitoring. Furthermore, miRNA delivery systems, including nanoparticles and viral vectors, are being explored to enhance therapeutic precision and minimize off-target effects.
Despite challenges such as delivery efficiency and potential toxicity, miRNA technology holds immense promise in revolutionizing personalized cancer therapy and improving patient outcomes.
This Special Issue focuses on the trials and tribulations, together with successful breakthroughs concerning the implementation of miRNA technology for practical use in clinical oncology settings.
Dr. Duncan Ayers
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- miRNA
- microRNA
- cancer
- oncology
- drug delivery
- technology
- non-coding RNA
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