Autophagy-Modulating Long Non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) and Their Molecular Events in Cancer

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Molecular Biology
• Genetics

Background:

• Cancer remains a major global health threat, with increasing incidence and mortality due to poor disease understanding and treatment limitations, especially for metastasis.
• Autophagy, a cellular degradation process, exhibits dual roles in cancer, potentially promoting or suppressing tumor growth by maintaining cancer cell homeostasis under stress.
• Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), non-protein-coding transcripts, are increasingly recognized for their regulatory roles in various biological processes, including cancer and autophagy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recently identified autophagy-modulating lncRNAs and their roles in cancer.
• To elucidate the signaling pathways and mechanisms by which lncRNAs influence autophagy in the context of cancer.
• To highlight emerging knowledge in cancer genetics and identify novel therapeutic targets.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of recent research on lncRNAs, autophagy, and cancer.
• Analysis of signaling transduction pathways involving autophagy-modulating lncRNAs.
• Examination of mechanisms of action for lncRNAs in cancer progression and suppression.

Main Results:

• Autophagy-modulating lncRNAs significantly impact cancer cell survival and death.
• These lncRNAs play critical roles in maintaining cancer microenvironment homeostasis, particularly under stress conditions like hypoxia.
• Specific lncRNAs have been identified that regulate autophagy, influencing cancer development and progression.

Conclusions:

• Autophagy-modulating lncRNAs are crucial regulators in cancer, exhibiting context-dependent pro-survival or pro-death functions.
• Understanding the intricate mechanisms of lncRNA-autophagy interactions in cancer is essential for therapeutic development.
• This review provides insights into novel therapeutic targets for cancer treatment based on lncRNA and autophagy modulation.