Long Intergenic Non-Coding RNAs of Human Chromosome 18: Focus on Cancers

Area of Science:

• Genomics
• Cancer Biology
• Molecular Oncology

Background:

• Malignant neoplasms exhibit significant molecular heterogeneity.
• Non-coding RNAs, particularly long intergenic non-coding RNAs (lincRNAs), are increasingly recognized for their roles in cancer development.
• Human chromosome 18 harbors numerous lincRNAs with largely uncharacterized roles in cancer.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically analyze genomic, transcriptomic, epigenomic, and interactomic data for 65 lincRNAs on human chromosome 18.
• To assess the pan-cancer relevance and potential roles of these lincRNAs in cancer biology.
• To identify lincRNAs with potential prognostic value.

Main Methods:

• Data mining of genomic, transcriptomic, epigenomic, and interactomic datasets.
• Literature review and analysis of existing biomedical and molecular biology data.
• Functional enrichment analysis and identification of transcriptomic signatures.

Main Results:

• Of 65 analyzed lincRNAs, only 5 are confirmed cancer-associated, with 11 others showing potential associations.
• 40% of chromosome 18 lincRNAs exhibit tissue-specific expression, and many are subject to genomic alterations (fusions, amplifications, deletions) in cancers.
• Identified lincRNA interactomes, including interactions with microRNAs and proteins, and found six lincRNAs encode small open-reading frame (smORF) proteins.
• Discovered seven transcriptomic signatures comprising 2-7 lincRNAs with potential prognostic value.

Conclusions:

• The majority of long intergenic non-coding RNAs on human chromosome 18 are understudied in the context of cancer.
• Genomic alterations, differential expression, and interactions with key molecular players suggest a role for chromosome 18 lincRNAs in cancer.
• Further research into specific lincRNAs and their encoded smORFs is warranted to elucidate their functions in carcinogenesis and potential as therapeutic targets.