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Cancer development and therapy resistance: spotlights on the dark side of the genome

Eleonora Leucci1

  • 1Department of Oncology, Laboratory of RNA Cancer Biology, LKI Leuven Cancer Institute, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.

Pharmacology & Therapeutics
|April 13, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are crucial non-genetic regulators in cancer development. These molecules offer promising potential as cancer biomarkers and therapeutic targets, despite challenges in their application.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genomics

Background:

  • Cancer research traditionally focused on genetic mutations in protein-coding genes.
  • Epigenetic and post-transcriptional modifications significantly influence cancer progression and therapy resistance.
  • Genome-wide studies reveal disease-causing mutations in non-protein-coding regions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in cancer.
  • To discuss the potential of lncRNAs as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in oncology.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent genome-wide studies and scientific literature.
  • Analysis of the functions of lncRNAs in epigenetic and post-transcriptional regulation.
  • Evaluation of lncRNA expression patterns in cancer.

Main Results:

  • The majority of the human genome is transcribed, but only a small fraction encodes proteins.
  • Long non-coding RNAs exhibit disease- and stage-specific expression, making them attractive biomarkers.
  • lncRNAs are key regulators of cellular stress responses and non-genetic drivers of cancer.

Conclusions:

  • Long non-coding RNAs play a critical role in cancer development and progression.
  • lncRNAs present significant promise as novel biomarkers and therapeutic strategies for cancer treatment.
  • Further research is needed to overcome challenges associated with lncRNA-based applications in oncology.
Keywords:
BiomarkersCancerLncRNATargeted therapyTherapy resistance

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