Long noncoding RNA: A resident staff of genomic instability regulation in tumorigenesis

Genomic instability is an important characteristic of cancer, which promotes clonal evolution and tumorigenesis by increasing the frequency of gene destruction and loss of genome integrity. Generally, the maintenance of genomic stability depends significantly on the accurate regulation and timely repair of different genomic scales, ranging from DNA sequence to chromatin higher-order structures to chromosomes. Once irreversible damage and imperfect repair occurred, the resulting genomic instability can lead to a higher risk of tumorigenesis. However, how these factors disrupt genomic stability and their specific tumorigenic mechanisms remain unclear. Inspiringly, numerous studies have confirmed that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), an important regulator of epigenetic inheritance, are functional in such process. Thus, this review aimed to discuss the vital factors that may lead to genomic instability at these multiple genomic scales, with an emphasis on the role of lncRNAs in it.