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Nuclear Long Non-Coding RNAs as Epigenetic Regulators in Cancer
Hiroaki Tachiwana1, Noriko Saitoh1
1Division of Cancer Biology, The Cancer Institute of JFCR, 3-8-31 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-8550, Japan.
Current Medicinal Chemistry
|February 16, 2021
Summary
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are crucial epigenetic regulators involved in cell development and disease. This review highlights lncRNA mechanisms in cancer, identifying them as potential diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Epigenetics
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are abundant in mammalian cells and play roles in development, differentiation, and disease.
- Nuclear lncRNAs regulate gene expression by interacting with genomic loci and recruiting epigenetic modifiers.
- Dysregulated lncRNAs are implicated in cancer, acting as oncogenes or tumor suppressors and influencing cancer hallmarks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review representative long non-coding RNAs.
- To provide an overview of lncRNA mechanisms in epigenetic regulation.
- To discuss the contribution of lncRNAs to cancer development.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on lncRNAs and epigenetics.
- Analysis of lncRNA involvement in gene expression regulation.
- Examination of lncRNA roles in cancer hallmarks and progression.
Main Results:
- lncRNAs function as epigenetic regulators by modulating DNA methylation and histone modifications.
- lncRNAs influence genome structure and nuclear organization.
- lncRNAs are implicated in all major cancer hallmarks, affecting oncogenesis and tumor suppression.
Conclusions:
- lncRNAs are emerging epigenetic regulators with significant roles in cancer.
- lncRNAs represent promising diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for various cancers.
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