microRNAs in Tumor Microenvironments
A special issue of Genes (ISSN 2073-4425). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Genetics and Genomics".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 March 2021) | Viewed by 3075
Special Issue Editors
Interests: general pathology; oncology; cancer development; drug resistance; epigenetics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: cancer; epigenetics; biomarkers; microRNAs; DNA methylation; occupational carcinogens
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The tumor microenvironment, including cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF), cancer-infiltrating cells, blood vessels, inflammatory cells, and several other molecules, is one of the main players involved in the development and progression of tumors. It has been widely demonstrated that the mutual interaction between cancer cells and normal cells of the tumor microenvironment is responsible for the production of proinflammatory cytokines and proteolytic proteins which favor tumor invasion and metastasis. Several studies have attempted to understand the molecular mechanisms involved in cell–cell interactions, focusing attention on epigenetic regulation of the tumor microenvironment. In this context, a growing body of evidence shows that microRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small noncoding RNAs, are actively involved in alterations to signal transduction and in the regulation of the cancer cell tumor environment/stroma communication. In particular, the mutual interaction between miRNAs and the tumor microenvironment was established. In fact, miRNAs released from cancer cells are able to alter the homeostasis of the tumor microenvironment; by contrast, tumor microenvironment miRNAs are able to alter gene expression in cancer cells.
On these bases, it is evident that miRNAs are fundamental in the regulation of the tumor microenvironment and, in turn, the progression of cancer. Therefore, further studies are needed to better understand the dynamics between miRNAs, cancer cells, and the tumor microenvironment in order to identify new diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers as well as new therapeutic targets.
The aim of this Special Issue is to summarize the current understanding about the evaluation of molecular and epigenetic mechanisms responsible for alterations in the tissue microenvironment and, in particular, the mutual interactions existing between cancer and stromal cells as mediated by miRNAs.
Potential topics will include, but are not limited to:
- Epigenetic modifications of the tumor microenvironment.
- miRNAs and cancer cell tumor environment/stroma communication.
- miRNA molecular trafficking in tumor microenvironment.
- Alteration of signal transduction by miRNAs and consequences for tumor progression.
- miRNAs as predictive biomarkers of tumor invasion.
- Liquid biopsy and high-throughput technologies for the analysis of miRNAs.
- Interaction of miRNA and tumor microenvironment.
- Inflammatory and immune modulation of tumor microenvironment mediated by miRNAs
- miRNAs as therapeutic targets for invasive tumors.
Prof. Massimo Libra
Guest Editor
Dr. Luca Falzone
Assistant Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- microRNAs
- cancer
- epigenetics
- tumor microenvironment
- liquid biopsy
