[lncRNAs roles in cancer occurrence]

ABSTRACT

Cancer is a complex condition in which gene expression is disrupted. Genetic factors involved in cancer pathology have been studied significantly. However, evidences have documented that a considerable fraction of susceptibility to cancer is not attributable to changes in protein coding sequences. Discovery and identification of a vast repertory of long noncoding RNAs [lncRNAs] with more than 200 nucleotides in human have been associated to unveiling their roles in tumorigenesis. Importance of lncRNAs, as either tumor suppressive or oncogenic agents, has been demonstrated in various common cancers. Recent studies indicate that several risk loci contributing to cancer pathogenesis are transcripted to lncRNAs which have critical roles in cancer incidence. Fundamental mechanisms of lncRNAs functions in a variety of gene expression levels involving epigenetic modification and transcriptional or post-transcriptional regulation, as well as interaction of these RNAs with other critical molecules such as DNA and some of proteins with definitive roles in cell fate have been described previously in detail by authors. Since a remarkable part of cancer pathogenesis has been reported in related to lncRNAs, the current review article discusses about association of some lncRNAs with specific tumors, effects of lncRNAs on cancer incidence and their importance in providing diagnostic and prognostic opportunities