Long non-coding RNAs in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia: Disease implication, challenges and therapeutic...

B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) manifests as an abnormal proliferation of neoplastic B-cell lymphocytes, adversely affecting both children and adults. Despite the advancements in cancer research, B-ALL cure remains challenging due to the complexity of the disease and immense subtype heterogeneity. Better understanding of the molecular mechanisms driving B-ALL pathogenesis is imperative to identify the novel therapeutic markers that can impede disease progression. Genomic and transcriptomic studies involving patient samples have underscored the emerging role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the diverse B-ALL landscape. Their dysregulation has been linked to malignant proliferation, metastasis, and varying patient survival outcomes. Gaining detailed mechanistic insights into the role of lncRNAs in B-ALL pathophysiology is pivotal for understanding their contributions to disease progression and developing new therapeutics. Herein, we have comprehensively discussed B-ALL and its diverse subtypes, focusing on the pivotal role played by various lncRNAs in fine-tuning signaling pathways, disease heterogeneity and progression. We have also explored recent advances in our understanding of the diverse classes of lncRNA inhibitors, evaluating their potential as B-ALL therapeutics and challenges associated with their development.