Dear Colleagues, 

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) arise from genomic regions without protein-coding potential and include abundant and functional types such as small nuclear RNAs (snRMAs), small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs). NcRNAs display a variety of mechanisms and functions by regulating gene expression at the levels of transcription, RNA processing and translation, and participating in virtually all cellular processes. Dysregulated ncRNAs are involved in many complex human diseases and exert distinct functions like oncogenic and tumor suppressive roles. Circulating ncRNAs have already shown potentials as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in various cancers. However, a few functions of ncRNAs need be characterized.

Aims: In this proposal, it will be examined that several ncRNAs contribute significantly to pathogenesis, oncogenesis, tumor suppression and cell cycle arrest of diverse cancer types and also give a summary of the pathways, which would be of necessity to further investigate the diverse gene regulatory mechanisms of ncRNAs, to unveil the complicated gene regulatory network involving ncRNAs, and ultimately provide novel strategies for cancer diagnosis and therapy. The different perspectives on the distinct functions, regulatory mechanisms and potentials clinic application of ncRNAs will be discussed in this proposal.

The scope for the Special Issue: As a small ncRNA, miRNA is that functions in RNA silencing and post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression via base-pairing with complementary sequences within mRNA and cleaving or destabilizing it. LncRNA can affect many cellular processes, such as cell cycle, survival, migration and metabolism, and correlate with malignancies in lung, breast, liver, bladder, and prostate cancer. circRNAs function in co-/post-transcriptional regulation by competing with linear splicing of the host mRNA or sponging for miRNAs, and thus show potentials in gene silencing and RNA interference, which provides a novel approach in cancer treatment. We hope to attract review articles and original research which describe the current state of ncRNAs in cancer. Papers are published upon acceptance, regardless of the Special Issue publication date.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following: ncRNAs in cancer including miRNAs, lncRNAs and circRNAs.

• Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have emerged as one important kind of molecules that can regulate altered genes contributing;
• Characterization of ncRNAs and their potential functions;
• NcRNA can affect many cellular processes, such as cell cycle, survival, migration and metabolism;
• Identification and characterization of microRNAs in cancer;
• Identification and characterization of lncRNAs in cancer;
• Identification and characterization of circRNAs in cancer;
• New strategies and efforts to identify ncRNA (miRNAs, lncRNA and circRNAs);
• Clinical Implications of Non-coding RNAs in Cancer.

Prof. Dr. Jin Wang
Dr. Christopher Corpe
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. Non-Coding RNA is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

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• non-coding RNA
• cancer
• regulatory mechanism
• clinical implications