The emerging role of long non-coding RNA in gallbladder cancer pathogenesis

Abstract

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is the most common and aggressive form of biliary tract carcinoma with an alarmingly low 5-year survival rate. Despite its high mortality rate, the underlying mechanisms of GBC pathogenesis are not completely understood. Recently, from a growing volume of literature, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as key regulators of gene expression and appear to play vital roles in many human cancers. To date, a number of lncRNAs have been implicated in GBC, but their potential roles in GBC have not been systematically examined. Thus, in this review, we critically discuss the emerging roles of lncRNAs in GBC, and the pathways involved. Specifically, we note that some lncRNAs show greater expression in T1 and T2 tumour stages compared to T3 and T4 tumour stages and that their dysregulation leads to alterations in cell cycle progression and can cause an increase in GBC cell proliferation and apoptosis. In addition, some lncRNAs control the epithelial-mesenchymal transition process, while others take part in the regulation of ERK/MAPK and Ras cancer-associated signalling pathways. We also present their potential utility in diagnosis, prognosis, and/or treatment of GBC. The overall goal of this review is to stimulate interest in the role of lncRNAs in GBC, which may open new avenues in the determination of GBC pathogenesis and may lead to the development of new preventive and therapeutic strategies for GBC.

Long Non-Coding RNAs in Biliary Tract Cancer—An Up-to-Date Review

“…During the last few years, more and more studies have found a connection between BTC and lncRNAs [17]. As summarized in Figure 1A and Table 1, most lncRNAs described in BTC might have an oncogenic role, as they are overexpressed in BTC patient specimens compared to non-tumor tissue and their enhanced expression correlates with unfavorable clinical characteristics (see Figure 2).…”

“…The lack of efficient therapeutic options and the high mortality rates demand for a better understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms of BTC development and progression [16]. Recent studies suggest that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) might be essentially involved in tumorigenesis via different molecular mechanisms [17].…”

“…Mounting evidence suggests that lncRNAs also play a role in BTC. For future management of these patients, this is especially interesting considering the fact that a better understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms of BTC genesis and progression is urgently required in order to develop new therapeutic strategies [17,29].…”

YY1-modulated Long Non-coding RNA SNHG12 Predicts and Promotes Gastric Cancer Metastasis via Activating miR-218-5p/YWHAZ-dependent β-catenin: A Bed to Bench Approach

“…The prognosis of GC remains poor due to tumor metastasis and recurrence and the potential underlying factors, including the heterogeneity in the functions of key genes and interlink signaling molecules and regulatory networks involved in the initiation, progression and invasion of GC (2,3). In this regard, the role of regulatory molecules in the tumor microenvironment such as long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), and other non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) has been scrutinized, and recent ndings have shown that lncRNAs play important roles in a wide range of physiological and pathophysiological processes, and act as oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes in tumorigenesis and cancer metastasis (4)(5)(6).…”

LncRNA EPIC1 Promotes Cancer Cell Proliferation and Inhibits Apoptosis in Gallbladder Cancer Interacting with lncRNA LET

“…It has been well-established that long (> 200nt) non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) contribute signi cantly to the development and progression of GBC [7]. Different from mRNAs as the template for the synthesis of proteins, lncRNAs participate in cancer biology mainly by regulating the expression of certain oncogenes and tumor suppressors [8,9].…”