Molecular Insights into the Role of Non-Coding RNAs in the Malignant Niche.

The malignant niche is a dynamic ecosystem that was previously viewed as passive but is now recognized for its significant role in cancer progression, facilitated by ncRNAs that regulate gene expression and signaling pathways. Spatial heterogeneity within tumors, caused by localized hypoxia and a stiff extracellular matrix, can influence the expression of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs) that are critical for tumor evolution and drug resistance. Original studies and comprehensive reviews have highlighted the functional synergy between the non-coding RNA (ncRNA) environment and the malignant niche, making this interplay a timely and important focus for investigation. Understanding these processes is essential for developing next-generation RNA-based therapies and diagnostics.This Research Topic aims to connect non-coding RNA (ncRNA) biology with the construction of the malignant niche in cancer. Our goal is to gain mechanistic insights into how ncRNAs—such as miRNAs, lncRNAs, circRNAs, and others—impact the tumor microenvironment (TME) by going beyond simple expression profiling. In particular, this Research Topic seeks to: identify ncRNA signatures as biochemical sensors for niche-specific stresses; elucidate the role of exosomal ncRNA in communication between cancer cells and stroma; and evaluate the therapeutic potential of targeting these RNA networks to disrupt the malignant niche’s protective functions.We are particularly interested in several specific themes, including:•Exosomal ncRNA Communication: Extracellular vesicles’ function in stroma-tumor communication.•Niche-Induced RNA Plasticity: How ncRNA dysregulation is brought on by acidity, hypoxia, or ECM stiffness.•Metabolic Reprogramming: ncRNA regulates the niche’s nutrient competition and “Warburg effect.”•Immune Evasion: ncRNAs control macrophage polarization and checkpoint molecules.•Therapeutic Targeting: Cutting-edge RNA-based delivery methods and tactics to upend the market.Methods, Systematic Reviews, Brief Research Reports, and Original Research are all welcome. We especially welcome submissions that combine computational modeling of RNA-niche interactions, spatial transcriptomics, or single-cell sequencing. Topic editors: Dr.Rajeev Nema, Atar Singh Kushwah, ASHOK KUMAR Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/79388/molecular-insights-into-the-role-of-non-coding-rnas-in-the-malignant-niche