Non-coding RNAs in Human Diseases: Roles and Mechanisms of Action

A special issue of Biomolecules (ISSN 2218-273X). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Genetics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2025 | Viewed by 968

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
Interests: cancer ncRNA markers for diagnosis and prognosis; regulatory networks of ncRNAs in cancer; identification of ncRNA binding partners; uncovering fundamental mechanisms of ncRNAs; pan-cancer associated ncRNAs; RNA-based therapy in cancer

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

A Special Issue on “Non-coding RNAs in Human Diseases: Roles and Mechanisms of Action” is being prepared for the journal Biomolecules.

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have revolutionized our understanding of gene regulation and cellular processes, challenging the traditional belief that only protein-coding genes are pivotal in human diseases. Their diverse roles and intricate mechanisms of action have captured the attention of researchers, illuminating their potential as valuable diagnostic markers, therapeutic targets, and prognostic indicators. This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive exploration of the major classes of ncRNAs, including microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, and circular RNAs, unveiling their involvement in a broad spectrum of pathological conditions such as cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and immune-mediated disorders. By delving into the underlying molecular mechanisms by which ncRNAs exert their effects, including transcriptional regulation, post-transcriptional modulation, epigenetic modifications, and intercellular communication, we seek to decipher the complex network of ncRNA-mediated interactions and their functional implications in disease pathogenesis. By inspiring further investigations into the therapeutic potential of targeting ncRNAs, this Special Issue aims to pave the way for the development of innovative treatments and precision medicine strategies, thus propelling the field forward. Original manuscripts and reviews dealing with any aspect of non-coding RNA in human disease are very welcome.

Dr. Lei Jin
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • non-coding RNAs
  • human diseases
  • diagnostic markers
  • therapeutic targets
  • prognostic indicators

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

19 pages, 4075 KiB  
Article
Integrated miRNA Signatures: Advancing Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Prognosis
by Maria Samara, Eleni Thodou, Marina Patoulioti, Antigoni Poultsidi, Georgia Eleni Thomopoulou and Antonis Giakountis
Biomolecules 2024, 14(11), 1352; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14111352 - 24 Oct 2024
Viewed by 501
Abstract
Breast cancer ranks first in incidence and second in deaths worldwide, presenting alarmingly rising mortality rates. Imaging methodologies and/or invasive biopsies are routinely used for screening and detection, although not always with high sensitivity/specificity. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) could serve as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers [...] Read more.
Breast cancer ranks first in incidence and second in deaths worldwide, presenting alarmingly rising mortality rates. Imaging methodologies and/or invasive biopsies are routinely used for screening and detection, although not always with high sensitivity/specificity. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) could serve as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for breast cancer. We have designed a computational approach combining transcriptome profiling, survival analyses, and diagnostic power calculations from 1165 patients with breast invasive carcinoma from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA-BRCA). Our strategy yielded two separate miRNA signatures consisting of four up-regulated and five down-regulated miRNAs in breast tumors, with cumulative diagnostic strength of AUC 0.93 and 0.92, respectively. We provide direct evidence regarding the breast cancer-specific expression of both signatures through a multicancer comparison of >7000 biopsies representing 19 solid cancer types, challenging their diagnostic potency beyond any of the current diagnostic methods. Our signatures are functionally implicated in cancer-related processes with statistically significant effects on overall survival and lymph-node invasion in breast cancer patients, which underlie their strong prognostic implication. Collectively, we propose two novel miRNA signatures with significantly elevated diagnostic and prognostic power as a functionally resolved tool for binary and accurate detection of breast cancer and other tumors of the female reproductive system. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Non-coding RNAs in Human Diseases: Roles and Mechanisms of Action)
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Planned Papers

The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.

Title: Integrated miRNA Signatures: Advancing Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Prognosis
Authors: Maria Samara; Eleni Thodou; Marina Patoulioti; Antonis Giakountis
Affiliation: University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece School of Health Sciences, Larissa, Greece
Abstract: Breast cancer ranks second in both sexes worldwide and presents alarmingly raising mortality rates. Imaging techniques, followed by invasive biopsies, are routinely used for screening and detection, although with low sensitivity and specificity. Non-invasive biomarkers, such as miRNAs, could serve for the diagnosis and prognosis of breast cancer. We have designed a computational approach combining transcriptome profiling, survival analyses, and diagnostic power calculations from 1.165 TCGA-BRCA patients, to develop two miRNA signatures with high diagnostic and prognostic efficacy. Our analytical strategy yielded two separate miRNA signatures consisting of four up-regulated and five down-regulated miRNAs in breast tumors, providing the means for binary diagnosis with superior cumulative diagnostic strength compared to current diagnostic methods. Beyond diagnosis, miRNA signature expression strongly correlates with overall survival in breast cancer patients underlying their strong prognostic potential. Moreover, we provide evidence regarding the cancer-specific expression of both signatures through multicancer analysis for 19 solid cancer types and we present evidence regarding their function in cancer-related processes such as cell cycle, apoptosis, ErbB signaling, DNA damage, and migration. In conclusion, our integrated strategy provides two novel miRNA signatures with a significantly elevated diagnostic and prognostic power for breast cancer and other tumors of the female reproductive system.

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