Long non-coding RNAs: critical players in hepatocellular carcinoma.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a complex disease with multiple underlying pathogenic mechanisms caused by a variety of etiologic factors. Emerging evidence showed that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), with size larger than 200 nucleotides (nt), play important roles in various types of cancer development and progression. In recent years, some dysregulated lncRNAs in HCC have been revealed and roles for several of them in HCC have been characterized. All these findings point to the potential of lncRNAs as prospective novel therapeutic targets in HCC. In this review, we summarize known dysregulated lncRNAs in HCC, and review potential biological roles and underlying molecular mechanisms of lncRNAs in HCC. Additionally, we discussed prospects of lncRNAs as potential biomarker and therapeutic target for HCC. In conclusion, this paper will help us gain better understanding of molecular mechanisms by which lncRNAs perform their function in HCC and also provide general strategies and directions for future research.
National-Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Biodiagnostics and Biotherapy, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, China. jinsun2012@outlook.com.
Jin
J
Sun
National-Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Biodiagnostics and Biotherapy, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, China. biepeipei@mail.xjtu.edu.cn.
Beibei
B
Bie
National-Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Biodiagnostics and Biotherapy, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, China. drzhangshu@163.com.
Shu
S
Zhang
National-Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Biodiagnostics and Biotherapy, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, China. yangjundr@163.com.
Jun
J
Yang
National-Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Biodiagnostics and Biotherapy, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, China. lzf2568@gmail.com.
Zongfang
Z
Li
D000818:Animals; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*
D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding