title: Long non-coding RNAs: An emerging powerhouse in the battle between life and death of tumor cells.
abstract: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) represent a class of non-protein coding transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides that have aptitude for regulating gene expression at the transcriptional, post-transcriptional or epigenetic levels. In recent years, lncRNAs, which are believed to be the largest transcript class in the transcriptomes, have emerged as important players in a variety of biological processes. Notably, the identification and characterization of numerous lncRNAs in the past decade has revealed a role for these molecules in the regulation of cancer cell survival and death. It is likely that this class of non-coding RNA constitutes a critical contributor to the assorted known or/and unknown mechanisms of intrinsic or acquired drug resistance. Moreover, the expression of lncRNAs is altered in various patho-physiological conditions, including cancer. Therefore, lncRNAs represent potentially important targets in predicting or altering the sensitivity or resistance of cancer cells to various therapies. Here, we provide an overview on the molecular functions of lncRNAs, and discuss their impact and importance in cancer development, progression, and therapeutic outcome. We also provide a perspective on how lncRNAs may alter the efficacy of cancer therapy and the promise of lncRNAs as novel therapeutic targets for overcoming chemoresistance. A better understanding of the functional roles of lncRNA in cancer can ultimately translate to the development of novel, lncRNA-based intervention strategies for the treatment or prevention of drug-resistant cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Aging Research, Key Laboratory for Medical Molecular Diagnostics of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China; Department of Pharmacology and The Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine and Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USA. Electronic address: xiongxingdong@126.com.
authors.forename: Xing-Dong
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and The Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine and Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USA.
authors.forename: Xingcong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Aging Research, Key Laboratory for Medical Molecular Diagnostics of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China.
authors.forename: Meng-Yun
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and The Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine and Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USA.
authors.forename: Jay W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Aging Research, Key Laboratory for Medical Molecular Diagnostics of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China.
authors.forename: Xinguang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and The Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine and Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USA. Electronic address: juy16@psu.edu.
authors.forename: Jin-Ming
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000235:genetics; D018450:Disease Progression; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding; D059467:Transcriptome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding
keywords: Cell death; Cell survival; Long non-coding RNAs; Therapeutic resistance; Tumor