Advances in Understanding Long Non-coding RNAs: Structural Variability and Implications in Cancer Biology

Abstract

Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs), a subset of RNA molecules, were first identified approximately thirty years ago. These RNAs play essential regulatory roles in gene expression networks, influencing gene expression patterns through mechanisms such as chromosomal reorganization. Due to their diverse origins and the inherent versatility of RNA, LncRNAs exhibit a wide array of structures and properties. Extensive research has been conducted on the numerous LncRNAs in the context of cancer, uncovering their pivotal roles in the six key hallmarks of cancer: cell proliferation, cellular immortality, growth, metastasis, cell viability, and tumor angiogenesis. LncRNAs modulate these cancer hallmarks through various mechanisms, acting either as promoters or inhibitors. This review will examine the characteristics of LncRNAs and the mechanisms by which they influence the hallmarks of cancer.