The role and application prospects of glycolysis-related non-coding RNAs in lung cancer

Metabolic disorders, especially those affecting glucose metabolism, are hallmarks of lung cancer and other tumors. Cancer cells rely on glycolysis to rapidly generate energy from glucose, pyruvate, and lactate, fueling accelerated tumor growth. Recent studies have revealed a close association between aberrant non-coding RNA (ncRNA) expression and glycolysis.

This review explores the regulatory mechanisms of glycolysis-associated ncRNAs in lung cancer, including competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) mechanisms, epigenetic modifications, and protein interactions. By acting on glycolytic enzymes, transcription factors, signaling pathways, and metabolic crosstalk in the tumor microenvironment, these ncRNAs influence lung cancer cell proliferation, metastasis, immune evasion, and therapeutic response, thereby playing critical roles in the glycolytic process of lung cancer. Furthermore, this review discusses the potential value of these ncRNAs in lung cancer diagnosis, prognosis assessment, drug resistance, and radiosensitivity, and summarizes current research progress in ncRNA-based therapies, along with the challenges facing their clinical translation.

Glycolysis-associated ncRNAs not only serve as central hubs in the metabolic regulation of lung cancer but also offer new avenues for the discovery of novel diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Although clinical translation remains challenging, the continued convergence of emerging technologies and metabolic research is poised to position the ncRNA-glycolysis axis as a cornerstone of future precision medicine in lung cancer.