Membrane-lipid associated lncRNA: A new regulator in cancer signaling

Long noncoding RNAs (LncRNAs) are one of the emerging regulators which are involved in diverse biological processes. LncRNAs can participate in the regulation of gene expression via various ways in the cytoplasm and the nucleus. The function of the nuclear lncRNAs has been studied a lot. Recent studies have shown that the regulatory roles of cytoplasmic lncRNA, including membrane lipid associated lncRNA, which may open an unexplored mechanistic territory. LncRNA dysregulated expression represents a common event in pathogenesis of a variety of human genetic diseases including cancer. Lipid-associated lncRNA is capable of modulating critical cellular functions by directly interacting with phospholipids on the plasma membrane. Besides, it also could be a predictor for the poor prognosis of cancer. In this review, we sum up the roles of cytoplasmic lncRNA, especially lipid-associated lncRNA in cancer.