Editorial: RNA helicases: pioneering therapeutic avenues in cancer treatment

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Abstract
The Research Topic entitled "RNA Helicases: Pioneering Therapeutic Avenues in Cancer Treatment" explores the emerging role of RNA helicases as central regulators of fundamental cellular processes whose dysregulation contributes to tumor initiation, progression, and therapeutic resistance. Over the last decade, increasing evidence has highlighted the importance of these enzymes not only in RNA metabolism but also in the maintenance of genome stability, cellular stress responses, and immune regulation, positioning them as attractive targets for cancer therapy.The aim of this Research Topic is to provide new evidence supporting the functional relevance of RNA helicases as cancer-associated regulators while highlighting molecular mechanisms that may be exploited for therapeutic intervention. In addition, the collection discusses emerging strategies to improve treatment efficacy by targeting RNA helicases directly or by exploiting pathways that depend on their activity.Mini-Review articles. Together, these contributions provide a comprehensive overview of the diverse biological functions of RNA helicases, including their roles in RNA processing, resolution, cellular 37 stress responses, and transcriptional regulation. Collectively, the articles emphasize the 38 remarkable functional versatility of this protein family and its growing relevance in cancer biology. 39 We anticipate that this collection will be of interest to a broad readership, including basic 86 researchers, translational scientists, and clinicians working in oncology and RNA biology. Nevertheless, 87 these articles address only a fraction of the many unresolved questions surrounding the diverse and context-88 dependent functions of RNA helicases. Further investigations will be essential to elucidate the molecular 89 mechanisms governing helicase activity, identify predictive biomarkers of response, and develop more 90 selective and effective therapeutic strategies with reduced toxicity. Continued research in this rapidly 91 evolving field is expected to uncover new opportunities for targeting RNA helicases and their associated 92 pathways in cancer treatment. 93