» Articles » PMID: 30175284

Exploring the Mechanisms Behind Long Noncoding RNAs and Cancer

Overview
Date 2018 Sep 4
PMID 30175284
Citations 150
Authors
Affiliations
Soon will be listed here.
Abstract

Over the past decade, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified as significant players in gene regulation. They are often differentially expressed and widely-associated with a majority of cancer types. The aberrant expression of these transcripts has been linked to tumorigenesis, metastasis, cancer stage progression and patient survival. Despite their apparent link to cancer, it has been challenging to gain a mechanistic understanding of how they contribute to cancer, partially due the difficulty in discriminating functional RNAs from other noncoding transcription events. However, there are several well-studied lncRNAs where specific mechanisms have been more clearly defined, leading to new discoveries into how these RNAs function. One major observation that has come to light is the context-dependence of lncRNA mechanisms, where they often have unique function in specific cell types and environment. Here, we review the molecular mechanisms of lncRNAs with a focus on cancer pathways, illustrating a few informative examples. Together, this type of detailed insight will lead to a greater understanding of the potential for the application of lncRNAs as targets of cancer therapies and diagnostics.

Citing Articles

Unveiling Racial Disparities in Localized Prostate Cancer: A Systems-Level Exploration of the lncRNA Landscape.

Morgan R, Hazard E, Savage S, Halbert C, Gattoni-Celli S, Hardiman G Genes (Basel). 2025; 16(2).

PMID: 40004558 PMC: 11855151. DOI: 10.3390/genes16020229.


Long non-coding RNA involved in the carcinogenesis of human female cancer - a comprehensive review.

Afroze N, Sundaram M, Haque S, Hussain A Discov Oncol. 2025; 16(1):122.

PMID: 39912983 PMC: 11803034. DOI: 10.1007/s12672-025-01848-1.


Crosstalk between non-coding RNAs and programmed cell death in colorectal cancer: implications for targeted therapy.

Taha S, Karimi M, Mahdavi B, Yousefi Tehrani M, Bemani A, Kabirian S Epigenetics Chromatin. 2025; 18(1):3.

PMID: 39810224 PMC: 11734566. DOI: 10.1186/s13072-024-00560-8.


The RNA N-Methyladenosine MethylomeCoordinates Long Non-Coding RNAs to MediateCancer Drug Resistance by Activating PI3KSignaling.

Liu S Res Sq. 2025; .

PMID: 39764125 PMC: 11702776. DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-5663230/v1.


Advances in A-to-I RNA editing in cancer.

Zhang Y, Li L, Mendoza J, Wang D, Yan Q, Shi L Mol Cancer. 2024; 23(1):280.

PMID: 39731127 PMC: 11673720. DOI: 10.1186/s12943-024-02194-6.


References
1.
Engreitz J, Sirokman K, McDonel P, Shishkin A, Surka C, Russell P . RNA-RNA interactions enable specific targeting of noncoding RNAs to nascent Pre-mRNAs and chromatin sites. Cell. 2014; 159(1):188-199. PMC: 4177037. DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2014.08.018. View

2.
Huarte M . The emerging role of lncRNAs in cancer. Nat Med. 2015; 21(11):1253-61. DOI: 10.1038/nm.3981. View

3.
Katsushima K, Natsume A, Ohka F, Shinjo K, Hatanaka A, Ichimura N . Targeting the Notch-regulated non-coding RNA TUG1 for glioma treatment. Nat Commun. 2016; 7:13616. PMC: 5150648. DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13616. View

4.
Wang X, Goodrich K, Gooding A, Naeem H, Archer S, Paucek R . Targeting of Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 to RNA by Short Repeats of Consecutive Guanines. Mol Cell. 2017; 65(6):1056-1067.e5. DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2017.02.003. View

5.
Wang K, Chang H . Molecular mechanisms of long noncoding RNAs. Mol Cell. 2011; 43(6):904-14. PMC: 3199020. DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2011.08.018. View