The Role of Small RNAs as Cancer Biomarkers: Biology and Clinical Potential Application

Dear Colleagues,

Small RNA molecules include all types of RNA that are transcribed from a gene that can reach up to 35–40 nucleotides and are not translated. These include many molecular subtypes, such as miRNAs, piRNAs, siRNAs, snRNAs, and snoRNAs. In addition to these subtypes, some recent works have also reported small RNAs derived from longer molecules such as tRNAs, mRNAs, lncRNAs, and vault RNAs. These molecules play an important role in regulating cellular processes such as growth, differentiation, apoptosis, migration, and other metabolic functions. 

Therefore, the abnormal expression, sequence alteration, or molecular modification of different small RNAs have been used as potential new biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and even drug targets for known challenging human diseases such as cancer. These small molecules are very important for the regulation of multiple systems, and new publications show new associations with tumor growth, metastasis, apoptosis resistance, the promotion/avoidance of immune response, or drug resistance. 

In addition, it was already shown that anomalies in small ncRNAs are not only found in tumors but also in liquid-derived samples, such as milk (for breast tumors), urine (for prostate tumors), and plasma (for other types of tumors). Many small RNA types have more molecular stability when outside of the cell, and therefore they may be better biomarkers in these types of liquid samples compared to larger RNAs.

Although most publications with small RNAs associate miRNAs to biomarker discovery in tumors, there is more evidence of other small RNA types involved in this human disease with multiple challenges in diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment target. There is a great deal of room for new research aiming to better understand tumors.

This Special Issue aims to publish novel research articles and reviews regarding any or multiple types of small RNAs associated with potential biomarkers in cancer research for diagnosis, prognosis, or treatment target. We welcome original research papers using molecular biology, bioinformatics, genetics, cell biology and general medical sciences in order to help patients with the disease to have a better life expectancy.  

Dr. Natasha de Nogueira Jorge
Dr. Gabriel Wajnberg
Dr. Bijan Dey
Guest Editors

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• small RNA
• miRNA
• cancer
• molecular biology
• sequencing
• transcriptomics