Long noncoding RNAs in gastric cancer: From molecular dissection to clinical application

Abstract

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are important regulators of cell processes that are usually dysregulated in gastric cancer (GC). Based on their high specificity and ease of detection in tissues and body fluids, increasing attention has spurred the study of the roles of lncRNAs in GC patients. Thus, it is necessary to elucidate the molecular mechanisms and further explore the clinical applications of lncRNAs in GC. In this review, we summarize current knowledge to examine dysregulated lncRNAs in GC and their underlying molecular mechanisms and activities in GC, which involve microRNA sponging, mRNA stability, genetic variants, alternative splicing, transcription factor binding, and epigenetic modification. More significantly, the potential of lncRNAs as prognostic, circulating, and drug-resistant biomarkers for GC is also described. This review highlights the method of dissecting molecular mechanisms to explore the clinical application of lncRNAs in GC. Overall, this review offers assistance in using lncRNAs as novel candidates for molecular mechanisms and for the identification of revolutionary biomarkers for GC.

Keywords: Gastric cancer; Long noncoding RNAs; Molecular mechanism; Biomarkers; Therapeutic target; Drug resistance

Core tip: The noncoding genome exhibits an extensive landscape of cancer hallmarks. With the emergence of the promising effects of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the treatment and diagnosis of cancer, advancements in the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of lncRNAs reveal a new era of therapeutic methods against gastric cancer and biomarkers. Although significant data imply the great translational application potential of lncRNAs in gastric cancer, these approaches still require further validation and a large cohort of patients to assess the long-term clinical outcomes.