Involvement of lncRNAs in cancer cells migration, invasion and metastasis: cytoskeleton and ECM crosstalk

Abstract

Cancer is the main cause of death worldwide and metastasis is a major cause of poor prognosis and cancer-associated mortality. Metastatic conversion of cancer cells is a multiplex process, including EMT through cytoskeleton remodeling and interaction with TME. Tens of thousands of putative lncRNAs have been identified, but the biological functions of most are still to be identified. However, lncRNAs have already emerged as key regulators of gene expression at transcriptional and post-transcriptional level to control gene expression in a spatio-temporal fashion. LncRNA-dependent mechanisms can control cell fates during development and their perturbed expression is associated with the onset and progression of many diseases including cancer. LncRNAs have been involved in each step of cancer cells metastasis through different modes of action. The investigation of lncRNAs different roles in cancer metastasis could possibly lead to the identification of new biomarkers and innovative cancer therapeutic options.

Construction of a novel disulfidptosis-related lncRNAs signature for prognosis prediction and anti-tumor immunity in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

“…Discovered recently in 2023, disulfidptosis, a form of cell death, potentially unveils new strategies for the treatment of metabolic dysfunction in tumors [ 9 ]. Numerous researches have consistently demonstrated the crucial regulatory roles of lncRNAs during the initiation, progression, and metastasis processes of tumors [ 16 ], and previous studies have extensively documented the application of disulfidptosis-related lncRNAs (DRlncRNAs) signature in a variety of malignant tumors, including liver hepatocellular carcinoma [ 30 ], lung adenocarcinoma [ 31 ], and colon adenocarcinoma [ 32 ], revealing their significant prognostic and clinical utility. For example, chen et al identified a six-DRlncRNAs signature of hepatocellular carcinoma, which could be a therapeutic biomarker for the treatment and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma patients [ 30 ].…”

“…They lack the functional role of encoding proteins but significantly contribute to the regulation of gene expression, chromatin remodeling, splicing, and intracellular transport [ 14 ]. Mounting evidence suggests that lncRNAs significantly influenced diverse cancer-related processes, including tumor initiation, proliferation, metastasis, drug resistance, and programmed cell death [ [15] , [16] , [17] ]. Currently, research investigating the modes of cell death in LSCC or HNSCC has identified immunity-related lncRNA [ 18 ], ferroptosis-related lncRNAs [ 19 ], MPT-driven necrosis-related [ 20 ], and stemness-related lncRNAs [ 21 ] as valuable prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for LSCC or HNSCC.…”

Nanotherapeutic approaches for delivery of long non-coding RNAs: an updated review with emphasis on cancer

“…The miR-200 family appears to act as a master regulator for most metastasis-related processes, ECM remodeling, and cell cycle regulation. 42,43 In PCa cells, LINC00857 acts as the ceRNA for miR-103b that targets RhoA mRNA to promote proliferation and metastasis. 44…”

Modulating the acetylation of α‐tubulin by LncRNAs and microRNAs helps in the progression of cancer

“…They are known to be associated with tubulin polymerization‐promoting protein (TPPP). Microtubule dynamics was disrupted and mitosis was delayed in cells lacking lncRNA 00899, But microtubule bundling caused by TPPP overexpression improved tubulin acetylation and microtubule stability 66 (Figure 3).…”