Long Non-Coding RNAs as Functional Codes for Oral Cancer: Translational Potential, Progress and Promises

Oral cancer is one of the leading malignant tumors worldwide. Despite the advent of multidisciplinary approaches, the overall prognosis of patients with oral cancer is poor, mainly due to late diagnosis. There is an urgent need to develop valid biomarkers for early detection and effective therapies. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are recognized as key elements of gene regulation, with pivotal roles in various physiological and pathological processes, including cancer. Over the past few years, an exponentially growing number of lncRNAs have been identified and linked to tumorigenesis and prognosis outcomes in oral cancer, illustrating their emerging roles in oral cancer progression and the associated signaling pathways. Herein, we aim to summarize the most recent advances made concerning oral cancer-associated lncRNA, and their expression, involvement, and potential clinical impact, reported to date, with a specific focus on the lncRNA-mediated molecular regulation in oncogenic signaling cascades and oral malignant progression, while exploring their potential, and challenges, for clinical applications as biomarkers or therapeutic targets for oral cancer.