Small Nucleolar RNAs as Emerging Players in Cancer Biology and Precision Medicine

Small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) constitute a class of non-coding RNAs traditionally associated with ribosomal RNA modification. However, recent research has revealed that these molecules participate in a wide range of cellular processes with significant implications in cancer biology. This review examines the emerging evidence on snoRNA dysregulation in various tumor types, where they can function as both oncogenes and tumor suppressors. We analyze the multiple molecular mechanisms through which snoRNAs contribute to malignant transformation, including the generation of specialized ribosomes, alternative splicing regulation, epigenetic modulation, and post-transcriptional regulatory functions. We discuss the potential of snoRNAs as non-invasive biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and prognosis, as well as emerging strategies for their utilization as therapeutic targets. The integration of these findings positions snoRNAs as fundamental players in oncogenesis and opens new avenues for the development of clinical tools in precision cancer medicine.