Long noncoding RNAs and prostate carcinogenesis: the missing 'linc'?
Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are rapidly becoming essential pieces in the cancer puzzle. Our understanding of their functional capabilities is in its infancy. One certain fact, however, is that their molecular interactions extend beyond chromatin complexes into diverse biological processes. In prostate cancer, aberrant expression of lncRNAs is associated with disease progression. Overexpression of oncogenic lncRNAs promotes tumor-cell proliferation and metastasis through chromatin looping and distal engagement with the androgen receptor, antisense gene regulation, alternative splicing, and impeding DNA repair. Several lncRNAs, such as prostate cancer antigen 3 (PCA3), prostate cancer gene expression marker 1 (PCGEM1), and prostate cancer associated ncRNA transcript 1 (PCAT1), are highly prostate-specific, posing as attractive biomarkers. Herein we review the mechanisms of action of lncRNAs in prostate carcinogenesis and their potential clinical utility for disease.
Prostate Molecular Oncology Research Group, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland; Department of Urology, St. James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Anna L
AL
Walsh
Prostate Molecular Oncology Research Group, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Alexandra V
AV
Tuzova
Prostate Molecular Oncology Research Group, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland; Department of Urology, St. James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Eva M
EM
Bolton
Prostate Molecular Oncology Research Group, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland; Department of Urology, St. James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Thomas H
TH
Lynch
Prostate Molecular Oncology Research Group, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland. Electronic address: aperry@tcd.ie.
Antoinette S
AS
Perry
D017398:Alternative Splicing; D000818:Animals; D063646:Carcinogenesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004260:DNA Repair; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011467:Prostate / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding; D011944:Receptors, Androgen
androgen receptor; chromatin; lncRNAs; prostate cancer