Clinical Applications of Noncoding RNAs in Cancer summarizes the existing strategies, advances, and future opportunities on the role of noncoding RNAs in cancer patients. Established clinicians and researchers from all around the world share their views and expertise and provide readers with invaluable knowledge on the subject. This book provides a comprehensive collection of information on the utility of noncoding RNAs in the diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy of cancer. It also discusses the evolutionary significance of noncoding RNAs and how the molecular tools such as RNA-seq, RNA-FISH, ic-SHAPE, and quantitative real-time PCR help in the detection and elucidation of the functions of noncoding RNAs. Additionally, the challenges associated with noncoding RNA approaches and future developments are discussed. It is a valuable resource for cancer researchers, oncologists, clinicians, and other biomedical field members who want to learn more about noninvasive ways to diagnose and efficiently treat diverse cancer types. Presents a beginning chapter summary to help readers understand the content thoroughly Encompasses detailed description of information from clinical studies on noncoding RNAs in cancer therapy Discusses one cancer type per chapter making the content easy to reference

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides in length that, in general, do not appear to have protein-coding potential. lncRNAs act in gene regulation involved with several biological processes. Furthermore, lncRNAs have been associated with a significant number of cancers, suggesting a potential role in tumorigenesis and progression. For example, HOTAIR regulates proliferation processes and other lncRNAs like highly upregulated in liver cancer (HULC), H19, PTENP1, HEIH, and antisense noncoding RNA in the INK4 locus (ANRIL). Other lncRNAs as AFAP1-AS1 and lincRNA-p21 can interact with BCL-2 and TP53, acting in apoptosis. Moreover, NORAD plays a vital role in genomic stability. Additionally, due to deregulated expression and high tissue specificity level, lncRNAs exhibit great potential as prognostic markers. In this chapter, we review the most highlighted lncRNAs acting in hallmarks of cancer and clinical application.

This volume presents techniques needed for the study of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in cancer from their identification to functional characterization. Chapters guide readers through identification of lncRNA expression signatures in cancer tissue or liquid biopsies by RNAseq, single Cell RNAseq, Phospho RNAseq or Nanopore Sequencing techniques; validation of lncRNA signatures by Real time PCR, digital PCR or in situ hybridization; and functional analysis by siRNA or CRISPR based methods for lncRNA silencing or overexpression. Lipid based nanoparticles for delivery of siRNAs in vivo, lncRNA-protein interactions, viral lncRNAs and circRNAs are also treated in this volume. Written in the format of the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, each chapter includes an introduction to the topic, lists necessary materials and reagents, includes tips on troubleshooting and known pitfalls, and step-by-step, readily reproducible protocols. Authoritative and practical, Long Non-Coding RNAs in Cancer aims to provide a collection of laboratory protocols, bioinformatic pipelines, and review chapters to further research in this vital field.

Drug Discovery in Cancer Epigenetics is a practical resource for scientists involved in the discovery, testing, and development of epigenetic cancer drugs. Epigenetic modifications can have significant implications for translational science as biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis or therapy prediction. Most importantly, epigenetic modifications are reversible and epigenetic players are found mutated in different cancers; therefore, they provide attractive therapeutic targets. There has been great interest in developing and testing epigenetic drugs, which inhibit DNA methyltransferases, histone modifying enzymes or chromatin reader proteins. The first few drugs are already FDA approved and have made their way into clinical settings. This book provides a comprehensive summary of the epigenetic drugs currently available and aims to increase awareness in this area to foster more rapid translation of epigenetic drugs into the clinic. Highlights the potential of epigenetic alterations in cancer for drug development Covers the tools and methods for epigenetic drug discovery, preclinical and clinical testing, and clinical implications of epigenetic therapy Provides important information regarding putative epigenetic targets, epigenetic technologies, networks and consortia for epigenetic drug discovery and routes for translation

Cancer and Noncoding RNAs offers an in-depth exploration of noncoding RNAs and their role in epigenetic regulation of complex human disease, most notably cancer. In addition to examining microRNAs, this volume provides a unique evaluation of more recently profiled noncoding RNAs now implicated in carcinogenesis, including lncRNAs, piRNAs, circRNAs, and tRNAs, identifying differences in function between these noncoding RNAs and how they interact with the rest of the epigenome. A broad range of chapters from experts in the field detail epigenetic regulation of various cancer types, along with recent next generation sequencing technologies, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and bioinformatics approaches. This book will help researchers in genomic medicine and cancer biology better understand the role of noncoding RNAs in epigenetics, aiding in the development of useful biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis and new RNA-based disease therapies. Provides a comprehensive analysis of noncoding RNAs implicated in epigenetic regulation of gene expression and chromatin dynamics Educates researchers and graduate students by highlighting, in addition to miRNAs, a range of noncoding RNAs newly associated with carcinogenesis Applies current knowledge of noncoding RNAs and epigenomics towards developing cancer and RNA-based disease therapies Features contributions by leading experts in the field

The discovery of microRNA (miRNA) involvement in cancer a decade ago, and the more recent findings of long non-coding RNAs in human diseases, challenged the long-standing view that RNAs without protein-coding potential are simply “junk” transcription within the human genome. These findings evidently changed the dogma that “DNA makes RNA makes protein” by showing that RNAs themselves can be essential regulators of cellular function and play key roles in cancer development. MiRNAs are evolutionarily conserved short single-stranded transcripts of 19–24 nucleotides in length. They do not code for proteins, but change the final output of protein-coding genes by regulating their transcriptional and/or translation process. Ultraconserved genes (UCGs) are non-coding RNAs with longer length (>200bp) that are transcribed from the ultraconserved genomic region. Both miRNAs and UCGs are located within cancer-associated genomic regions (CAGRs) and can act as tumor suppressors or oncogenes. In this chapter, we present principles and concepts that have been identified over the last decade with respect to our understanding of the function of non-coding RNAs, and summarize recent findings on the role of miRNAs and UCGs in cancer development. Finally, we will conclude by discussing the translational potential of this knowledge into clinical settings such as cancer diagnosis, prognosis and treatment.

'Non-coding RNA Transcripts in Cancer Therapy: Pre-clinical and Clinical Implications' provides a new insight towards role of non-coding RNAs molecules including microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs and circular RNAs in cancer. The reason of focusing on cancer is that this malignant disease is responsible for high death around the world and after cardiovascular diseases, it is a leading cause of death. In the current book, the basic information and knowledge about ncRNAs, their biogenesis and their biological functions are covered. It is shown that ncRNAs can regulate expression level of genes at transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels and therefore, ncRNAs are master and key players in molecular pathways. Then, the impact of regulation of molecular pathways by ncRNAs on important molecular mechanisms such as proliferation, metastasis, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, apoptosis and autophagy are described. All of these aspects are integrated in cancer and for treatment of this disease. In case of miRNAs, their biogenesis and biological functions in physiological conditions are described. Then, impact of miRNAs on proliferation, metastasis, therapy response (drug resistance and radio-resistance) is described. For lncRNAs and circRNAs, a same way is followed and their biogenesis and functional roles in cells are discussed. At the next step, function of lncRNAs and circRNAs in regulating proliferation, metastasis and therapy response (chemoresistance and radio-resistance) is introduced. These subjects are discussed based on pre-clinical studies and in order to make the book more comprehensive and broaden its scope, the function of exosomal ncRNAs in diagnosis and prognosis of cancer patients is described.