The Role of Non-coding RNAs in Oncology

Abstract

For decades, research into cancer biology focused on the involvement of protein-coding genes. Only recently was it discovered that an entire class of molecules, termed non-coding RNA (ncRNA), plays key regulatory roles in shaping cellular activity. An explosion of studies into ncRNA biology has since shown that they represent a diverse and prevalent group of RNAs including both oncogenic molecules and those that work in a tumor suppressive manner. As a result, hundreds of cancer-focused clinical trials involving ncRNAs as novel biomarkers or therapies have begun, and these are likely just the beginning. Slack and Chinnaiyan explore the diverse and context-dependent roles of ncRNAs, including circRNAs, lncRNAs, miRNAs, piRNAs, and tsRNAs, in cancer. They provide insight into the prospect of therapeutic targeting and use of ncRNAs as biomarkers with an up-to-date summary of clinical and preclinical studies.