Long Non-coding RNAs as Novel Biomarkers of Gastric Cancer.

Abstract

Gastric cancer (GC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), a small class of molecules that are transcribed as non-coding RNAs with lengths ranging from 200 nt to 100 kb have no protein coding capacity. Ectopic expression of lncRNAs, plays an important role in the development of GC. These molecules are involved in physiological cellular processes such as genomic imprinting, X-chromosome inactivation, maintenance of pluripotency and organogenesis through making changes in chromatin, transcription, translation, and processing. It has been known that lncRNAs act as oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes. Some studies show that lncRNAs could interact with miRNA and block miRNA access to their mRNA targets. Recent studies have shown that lncRNAs involve in tumorigenesis, angiogenesis, proliferation, migration and differentiation, and apoptosis. They can be used as novel biomarkers for the early detection of GC as well as therapeutic targets. In this study we aimed to describe the latest findings about the role of lncRNAs in the development of GC.