Long Non-Coding RNAs: Potential Biomarkers and Targets for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Therapy and Diagnosis

Donghong Yuan^1,2#, Yu Chen^3#, Xiaobing Li^1#, Jing Li⁴, Yueshui Zhao^1,2, Jing Shen^1,2, Fukuan Du^1,2, Parham Jabbarzadeh Kaboli^1,2, Mingxing Li^1,2, Xu Wu^1,2, Huijiao Ji^1,2, Chi Hin Cho^1,2, Qinglian Wen^2,5, Wanping Li^1✉, Zhangang Xiao^1,2✉, Bo Chen^6✉

1. Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China.
2. South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, Sichuan, China.
3. Department of Oncology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
4. Department of Oncology and Hematology, Hospital (T.C.M) Affiliated to Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China.
5. Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China.
6. Science and Technology Achievement Incubation Center, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
#These authors contributed equally to this work.

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Citation:
Yuan D, Chen Y, Li X, Li J, Zhao Y, Shen J, Du F, Kaboli PJ, Li M, Wu X, Ji H, Cho CH, Wen Q, Li W, Xiao Z, Chen B. Long Non-Coding RNAs: Potential Biomarkers and Targets for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Therapy and Diagnosis. Int J Biol Sci 2021; 17(1):220-235. doi:10.7150/ijbs.50730. Available from https://www.ijbs.com/v17p0220.htm

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide. Increasing studies showed that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), a novel class of RNAs that are greater than 200 nucleotides in length but lack the ability to encode proteins, exert crucial roles in the occurrence and progression of HCC. LncRNAs promote the proliferation, migration, invasion, autophagy, and apoptosis of tumor cells by regulating downstream target gene expression and cancer-related signaling pathways. Meanwhile, lncRNA can be used as biomarkers to predict the efficacy of HCC treatment strategies, such as surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy, and as a potential individualized tool for HCC diagnosis and treatment. In this review, we overview up-to-date findings on lncRNAs as potential biomarkers for HCC surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy resistance, target therapy, and immunotherapy, and discuss the potential clinical application of lncRNA as tools for HCC diagnosis and treatment.

Keywords: LncRNA, HCC, biomarkers, therapeutic and diagnostic targets