Urothelial cancer associated 1: a long noncoding RNA with a crucial role in cancer.
BACKGROUND
Urothelial cancer associated 1 (UCA1) is a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) which has gained more attention in recent years due to its aberrant expression in embryogenesis and a broad range of cancer tissues and cells. Importantly, multiple studies have shown that UCA1 plays oncogenic roles in tumor growth and metastasis, and it may act as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for human cancers. However, the molecular mechanism of UCA1 in cancer initiation, progression and metastasis remains incompletely understood. Thus, gaining a better understanding of the functional mechanism of UCA1 in cancer onset and progression is of the utmost significance for evaluating the potential application of UCA1.


CONCLUSIONS
In this review, we discuss UCA1 expression profiling, isoform, expression regulation, biological role and mechanism for UCA1 tumor-promoting effect. We further discuss the potential clinical application of UCA1 as a promising diagnostic biomarker or therapeutic target for human cancers.


CONCLUSIONS
UCA1 functions as an oncogenic lncRNA in several malignancies, and it might become a potential biomarker or therapeutic target for human cancers.
Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, 277 West Yanta Road, Xi'an, 710061, People's Republic of China.
Mei
M
Xue
Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, People's Republic of China.
Wei
W
Chen
Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, 277 West Yanta Road, Xi'an, 710061, People's Republic of China. lixuxjtu2014@126.com.
Xu
X
Li
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D018450:Disease Progression; D015536:Down-Regulation; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding / Q000502:physiology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding; C515159:UCA1 RNA, human
Cancer; Chemoresistance; Long noncoding RNA; Metastasis; UCA1