Eighty per cent of human genome transcripts are non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) that can regulate gene expression to modulate cancer progression, stemness, migration and metastasis. According to the localization, length and function, ncRNAs can be classified into several types: rRNA, tRNA, snRNA, snoRNA, siRNA, piRNA, microRNA, lncRNA, and circRNA. Among them, microRNA, lncRNA, and circRNA play a critical role in tumorigenesis and cancer therapy. MicroRNA, the length of which is typically 20-24 nucleotides, is a small single-stranded molecule of endogenous ncRNA. LncRNAs are a class of RNA molecules defined as transcripts more significant than 200 bp. CircRNA, a covalently closed and endogenous ncRNA class, is generated by a non-canonical splicing event during transcription and forms a covalently closed loop structure. The crosstalk among lncRNA, microRNA and circRNA has become a critical regulatory mechanism in tumorigenesis and cancer progression. MicroRNA, lncRNA, circRNA and pseudogene can function as competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks to regulate mRNA expression and govern cancer development and metastasis. A growing number of studies have shown that lncRNAs or circRNAs mediate mRNA expression via sponging miRNA to facilitate the outcome of chemotherapy.
Post-transcriptional modification is involved in many physiological conditions and pathological processes. Recent discoveries have shown that RNA modification has emerged as a primary mechanism in controlling cell transcriptome and proteome during cancer development. RNA modification plays diverse roles in RNA fate, affecting translation efficiency, RNA translocation, RNA stability, RNA-RNA interaction, RNA-protein affinity and alternative splicing. More than one hundred RNA modifications, including mRNA cap modifications, N6-methyladenosine (m6A), and RNA editing. Among them, m6A modification is the most abundant RNA modification and exerts function in various biological processes in eukaryotes. Increasing evidence has confirmed that m6A modification could regulate the expression and function of ncRNAs, subsequently modulating the consequence of tumorigenesis and cancer therapy. The m6A modification is closely associated with cancer metastasis, stemness, drug resistance and microenvironment remodelling.
Natural products with diverse and biological characteristics have long been applied as medical drugs to treat various diseases. However, even though some natural products are currently undergoing clinical evaluation for cancer treatment, a large proportion of natural products are far from being used in a clinical setting. As mentioned above, ncRNAs and RNA modification are critically important in cancer development and therapy. Therefore, modulating ncRNAs and RNA modification would contribute to enhancing the anti-tumor effect of natural products.
Following the previous topic '
Combating Cancer with Natural Products: What Would Non-Coding RNAs Bring? ', this Research Topic aims to exploit the underlying mechanisms of ncRNAs and RNA modification in maximizing the efficacy and minimizing the side effects of natural products in cancer treatment. Therefore, articles regarding ncRNAs expression, translocation, stability, RNA-RNA interaction, RNA-protein affinity, alternative splicing and modification under natural products treatment are welcome.
We welcome Original Research Articles, Reviews and Mini-Reviews focusing on, but not limited to:
● Molecular mechanism involved in ncRNAs and RNA modification under natural products-based cancer treatment;
● Utilizing ceRNA to enhance the efficacy of natural products in cancer treatment;
● Modulating ncRNAs and RNA modification to promote the consequence of natural products in remodelling cancer cell stemness and tumor microenvironment;
● Interaction between m6A and ncRNAs in cancer treatment using natural products;