Long non-coding RNAs in cancer: multifaceted roles and potential targets for immunotherapy

Area of Science:

• Molecular Biology
• Oncology
• Immunology

Background:

• Cancer poses a significant global health challenge, with late diagnosis and poor prognosis contributing to high mortality.
• Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are increasingly recognized as critical regulators of gene expression in human cancers.
• lncRNAs play dual roles, acting as oncogenes or tumor suppressors, and influencing cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively review the multifaceted roles of lncRNAs in human cancers.
• To explore the potential of lncRNAs as therapeutic targets for cancer immunotherapy.
• To examine lncRNA-mediated regulation of cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and immune evasion.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of current research on lncRNAs in cancer and immunology.
• Analysis of lncRNA mechanisms, including competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks.
• Examination of lncRNA involvement in immune cell function and the tumor microenvironment.

Main Results:

• lncRNAs are involved in cancer cell immune escape and modulate the tumor microenvironment.
• Targeting lncRNAs in cancer or immune cells can potentially enhance anti-tumor immune responses.
• lncRNAs regulate cancer progression through various mechanisms, impacting prognosis.

Conclusions:

• lncRNAs are promising targets for novel cancer immunotherapies.
• Further research is crucial to fully elucidate lncRNA functions in cancer and immunity.
• Understanding lncRNA mechanisms can lead to diverse therapeutic applications in oncology.