Special issue on ncRNAs in oncology clinical practice: diagnostics and therapeutics

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) embrace a spectrum of RNA-based families, including microRNAs (miRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). All families are derived from what has been established as the ‘dark matter’ of the genome.

Oncology clinical protocols and patient management strategies are constantly evolving, mainly due to the rapid implementation of novel diagnostic and therapeutic technologies. For example, the validation of ncRNAs as key molecular players in various facets of tumourigenesis, development, metastasis, chemoresistance and other tumour characteristics, renders ncRNAs highly attractive drug targets and/or diagnostic biomarkers in oncology practice.

This special issue will feature the latest studies on the influence of the varying ncRNA family members on all aspects of cancer and its treatment. Our hope is that it will not only provide further knowledge, but guide the scientific community in this research niche to implement the findings for novel cancer diagnostics and therapeutic strategies within the oncology clinical setting.

Topics covered:

These will include, but not be limited to:

• Influence of miRNAs on all aspects of oncology
• Influence of lncRNAs on all aspects of oncology
• Influence of other ncRNA family members on all aspects of oncology
• Validation of ncRNA-based biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis and other clinical parameters
• Identification / validation of novel ncRNA-based drug targets
• Novel technologies enabling the above scopes of research

Important deadlines:

• Submission deadline (for full papers): 30 June 2022
• Publication date: upon acceptance

Submission instructions:

Please read the Guide for Authors before submitting. All articles should be submitted online; please select the special issue “ncRNAs in oncology clinical practice: diagnostics and therapeutics”.

Manuscripts will be reviewed and published on a first-come, first-served basis. Once all accepted manuscripts are published, they will be gathered together in this special issue.

Guest editor:

• Dr. Duncan Ayers, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Biobanking, University of Malta, Malta. Email: duncan.ayers@um.edu.mt.