Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) are
mRNA-like molecules that do not encode for
proteins and that are longer than 200
nucleotides. LncRNAs play important biological roles in normal cell physiology and organism development. Therefore, deregulation of their activities is involved in disease processes such as
cancer.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of
cancer-related deaths due to late stage at diagnosis, distant
metastasis, and high rates of therapeutic failure. LncRNAs are emerging as important molecules in
lung cancer for their oncogenic or
tumor-suppressive functions. LncRNAs are highly stable in circulation, presenting an opportunity for use as non-invasive and early-stage
cancer diagnostic tools. Here, we summarize the latest works providing in vivo evidence available for lncRNAs role in
cancer development,
therapy-induced resistance, and their potential as
biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis, with a focus on
lung cancer. Additionally, we discuss current therapeutic approaches to target lncRNAs. The evidence discussed here strongly suggests that investigation of lncRNAs in
lung cancer in addition to
protein-coding genes will provide a holistic view of molecular mechanisms of
cancer initiation, development, and progression, and could open up a new avenue for
cancer treatment.