long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a diverse group of functional RNAs
which were once regarded as “transcription noise”. However, the latest evidence has
revealed that lncRNAs are often cancer-specific and the expression of lncRNAs is
frequently aberrant in a variety of cancers. Several studies have highlighted the
fundamental roles of lncRNAs in cancer proliferation, self-renewal, chemotherapy
resistance and metastasis. Thus, lncRNAs lie at the crossroad of tumorigenesis.
Recently, several articles have explored the molecular mechanisms notably governing
lncRNAs in multiple biological processes of the tumor. LncRNAs in the nucleus act in
trans or in cis to promote the transcription of tumorigentic genes. LncRNAs in the
nucleus play an important role in alternative splicing or genetic imprinting. In addition,
lncRNAs residing in the cytoplasm can exert their peculiar regulation on mRNA,
microRNA or protein via post-transcriptional modification. Targeting lncRNAs can
reverse cancer progression and might be promising for anti-cancer treatment. Several
different approaches to target lncRNAs including: small interfering RNAs, antisense
oligonucleotide, aptamer, small molecular inhibitors and CRISPR systems have been
considered for therapeutic purposes. This review will focus on the involvement of
lncRNAs in cancer progression and provide valuable therapeutic information to target
lncRNAs for anti-cancer treatment.
Keywords: Llong Non-Coding RNA, Epigenetics, LncRNA Classification,
LncRNA Location, LncRNA Structure, Conformation Structure, Transcriptional
Regulation, in cis LncRNA, in trans LncRNA, Aalternative Splicing, Genetic
Imprinting, Ppost-Transcriptional Regulation, RNA Decay, Endogenous
Competing RNA, Cancer, Proliferation, Stemness, Chemotherapy Resistance,
Migration, Invasion, Metastasis, Anti-Cancer Ttherapy, RNA Interference, Antisense Oligonucleotides, Apatmers, Drug Delivery, Small Molecule, CRISPR System.