Upregulation of long non-coding RNA PlncRNA-1 promotes proliferation and induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition in prostate cancer

The prognostic value of long non coding RNAs in cervical cancer: A meta-analysis

Cervical cancer is one of the most common malignancies in women worldwide. Numerous literatures demonstrate that aberrantly expressed lncRNAs are involved in tumorigenesis and development, and may have the potential to be prognostic markers. However, their prognostic functions in cervical remain controversial. Therefore, we performed this meta-analysis to evaluate the prognostic significance of lncRNAs in cervical cancer. We searched databases to identify relevant articles. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. 15 studies involving 1868 patients with cervical cancer and 12 lncRNAs were included. Our results indicated that the levels of lncRNAs were associated with the overall survival ((HR = 1.56, 95%CI = 1.02–2.38, P < 0.001, random-effect) and event free survival (HR = 1.33, 95%CI = 0.77–2.28, P < 0.01, random-effect). High HOTAIR expression was associated with shorter overall survival in cervical cancer (HR = 3.93, 95% CI = 2.34–6.62, P < 0.001, fixed-effect). In conclusion, our meta-analysis suggested that lncRNAs may serve as novel predictive factors for prognosis of cervical and high expression HOTAIR was associated with shorter overall survival in cervical cancer.

Long Non-Coding RNAs: Key Regulators of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition, Tumour Drug Resistance and Cancer Stem Cells

Epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), the adoption by epithelial cells of a mesenchymal-like phenotype, is a process co-opted by carcinoma cells in order to initiate invasion and metastasis. In addition, it is becoming clear that is instrumental to both the development of drug resistance by tumour cells and in the generation and maintenance of cancer stem cells. EMT is thus a pivotal process during tumour progression and poses a major barrier to the successful treatment of cancer. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNA) often utilize epigenetic programs to regulate both gene expression and chromatin structure. One type of ncRNA, called long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), has become increasingly recognized as being both highly dysregulated in cancer and to play a variety of different roles in tumourigenesis. Indeed, over the last few years, lncRNAs have rapidly emerged as key regulators of EMT in cancer. In this review, we discuss the lncRNAs that have been associated with the EMT process in cancer and the variety of molecular mechanisms and signalling pathways through which they regulate EMT, and finally discuss how these EMT-regulating lncRNAs impact on both anti-cancer drug resistance and the cancer stem cell phenotype.