MicroRNAs in Cancer Therapeutics and Drug Resistance

The field of cancer biology has witnessed rapid advances in our understanding of microRNAs (miRNAs) as crucial regulators of gene expression and mediators of cancer pathogenesis. MiRNAs, as small non-coding RNAs, have been shown to orchestrate diverse signaling pathways that control cancer initiation, progression, metastasis, and the response to therapy. Mounting evidence from experimental and clinical studies highlights that dysregulated miRNA networks contribute markedly to chemoresistance, tumor recurrence, and altered pharmacodynamics in various cancers. Pioneering research has uncovered the functional interplay between miRNAs and key oncogenic factors, as well as their influence on apoptosis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and metastatic behavior. Despite this progress, challenges remain in decoding the complexity of miRNA-mediated mechanisms and fully leveraging their potential as clinical biomarkers or therapeutic agents.Given these challenges and possibilities, there is a pressing need to better understand how miRNAs can be harnessed as both predictive biomarkers and as targets for therapy to overcome drug resistance in cancer. Recent research has focused on developing miRNA mimics and inhibitors, exploring novel delivery systems—including nanotechnology and targeted carriers—and integrating high-throughput bioinformatics and artificial intelligence to map miRNA–drug interaction networks. Translational efforts are beginning to bridge laboratory discoveries with clinical application, but further work is required to validate candidate miRNAs, optimize delivery methods, and address regulatory hurdles for miRNA-based therapeutics. This rapidly evolving field thus stands at the intersection of molecular biology, computational science, and clinical oncology, poised to transform the management of therapy-resistant cancer.This Research Topic aims to synthesize the latest advances in miRNA biology, computational innovation, and translational oncology to uncover the multifaceted roles of miRNAs in cancer drug resistance and therapeutic response. We invite studies that provide mechanistic insights into miRNA-regulated signaling networks, elucidate the crosstalk between miRNAs and cancer-driving pathways, and characterize miRNA-based biomarkers predictive of treatment outcomes. Additionally, we encourage manuscripts that advance the field through the development and evaluation of miRNA-based therapeutics, innovative delivery strategies, and the integration of computational and omics approaches to drug discovery. By fostering multidisciplinary collaboration, this Research Topic seeks to guide future research, inform clinical decision-making, and promote the development of new miRNA-driven strategies in cancer therapy.To gather further insights into the landscape of miRNAs in cancer therapy resistance, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:- Mechanistic Insights:i. Regulation of cancer signaling pathways by miRNAs.ii. miRNA-mediated modulation of apoptosis, EMT, and metastasis.iii. Crosstalk between miRNAs and oncogenic transcription factors.- miRNAs in Drug Resistance:i. Role of miRNAs in chemoresistance and targeted therapy resistance.ii. miRNA-based signatures predicting treatment response.iii. miRNA–drug interaction networks in multi-drug-resistant cancers.- Therapeutic Applications:i. miRNA mimics and inhibitors as therapeutic agents.ii. Nanotechnology and delivery strategies for miRNA-based therapeutics.iii. Preclinical and clinical progress in miRNA-targeted cancer therapy.- Computational and Omics Approaches:i. miRNA profiling and bioinformatics pipelines in drug discovery.ii. Integrative analyses linking miRNA expression to pharmacogenomics data.iii. AI and machine learning in predicting miRNA–drug interactions.- Clinical and Translational Perspectives:i. miRNA biomarkers for patient stratification.ii. miRNA-based combinatorial therapy approaches.iii. Challenges in regulatory approval and clinical translation.Please note that manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics or computational analysis of public genomic or transcriptomic databases that are not accompanied by validation (independent cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) are out of the scope of this Research Topic. Topic editors: Vipendra Kumar Singh, Neha Garg, Shankar Suman Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/77041/micrornas-in-cancer-therapeutics-and-drug-resistance