Aug 2026· Oncoimmunology· Vol 15· 0 citations· 182 references
Medicine
TL;DR
These findings call for a revised molecular dogma in which the noncoding genome is recognized as a major regulator of cellular function, oncogenic transformation, and immune surveillance.
Abstract
ABSTRACT Long considered transcriptional noise, noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), are now recognized as central regulators of cellular function, acting as scaffolds, structural elements, and regulators of gene expression. This expanding functional landscape is reshaping our understanding of cancer biology, immune regulation, and the limits of translation itself. Beyond gene regulation, lncRNAs may be implicated in the earliest stages of oncogenic transformation, orchestrating molecular reprogramming and remodeling of the immune microenvironment in premalignant lesions. Their functional analysis has further exposed an unexpected translational dimension with some lncRNAs harboring open reading frames encoding micropeptides. These cryptic micropeptides constitute an underexplored dimension of the immunopeptidome that could shape T-cell development and antitumor immunity, with implications for cancer immunosurveillance and therapeutic targeting. Collectively, these findings call for a revised molecular dogma in which the noncoding genome is recognized as a major regulator of cellular function, oncogenic transformation, and immune surveillance.
This review examines how different types of ncRNAs contribute to cancer initiation, progression, and treatment resistance, and assesses their potential as diagnostic markers, prognostic factors, and therapeutic targets.
Akanksha Samuel, G. Calin· Carcinogenesis· 0 citations
The latest functional genomics strategies used to examine NCRNAS are discussed and their transformative ability in accurate therapy is highlighted, highlighting their transformative ability in accurate therapy.
Deepak Kumar Sahu, Harish Jaiswal· Research journal of biotechn...· 0 citations
This review will focus on the newly identified functions of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in cancer biology and therapeutic innovations, and reviews the existing knowledge on microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, and circular RNAs in the context of their different experimental and computational studies.
Li Qiu, Zenan Xu, Jianxiong Xu et al.· Biomolecules· 0 citations
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as pivotal regulators of tumor-immune interactions, bridging epigenetic, transcriptional, and post-transcriptional control of immune signaling networks. Recent multi-omics analyses reveal that lncRNAs shape the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) by influencing immune-cell differentiation, activation, and exhaustion, as well as cytokine, chemokine, and immune-checkpoint pathways. Acting through molecular scaffolding, chromatin remodeling, and competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) mechanisms, lncRNAs orchestrate the recruitment and functional polarization of lymphoid and myeloid populations, thereby dictating the balance between antitumor immunity and immune suppression. Integrative evidence further links specific lncRNA signatures to PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint regulation, metabolic reprogramming, and therapeutic resistance. Here, we synthesize current discoveries defining the lncRNA-TIME nexus and highlight advances in high-throughput sequencing, single-cell transcriptomics, and computational modeling that enable the mapping of these complex networks. We discuss the translational promise of targeting lncRNAs as biomarkers and therapeutic nodes to enhance immunotherapy efficacy. Collectively, these integrative insights position lncRNAs as critical molecular interfaces connecting tumor genomics with immune regulation and open new avenues for precision immuno-oncology.
Juwon Lee, Revathy Nadhan, Y. Song et al.· Genomics, Proteomics & Bioin...· 0 citations
For most of the twentieth century, the transcriptional output of the human genome was thought to be biologically inert—a characterization that has been proven wrong in almost every important respect. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) such as microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), circular RNAs (circRNAs), small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) and PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are now thought of as vital regulators of gene expression in all the stages of cancer pathogenesis, including the initial epigenetic changes, metastatic spread and the development of therapeutic resistance. This review highlights four areas where the clinical potential of ncRNAs is most promising: reconstruction of ncRNA regulatory networks by multi-omics integration; circulating ncRNAs as minimally invasive cancer biomarkers; causal roles of ncRNAs in drug resistance through epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity, metabolic reprogramming, and stromal communication; and translation of ncRNA targeting strategies to clinical trials. We will need to invest equally in mechanistic rigor and translational infrastructure to move forward.
Şeyma Tutar, Vida Rezayifar, Hamida Abakar Mohamed Elhaj et al.· Frontiers in Oncology· 0 citations
This work discusses new discoveries which highlight the value of lncRNA targeting as therapeutic applications, in gastrointestinal inflammation and cancer angiogenesis, and identifies gaps in the current knowledge and understanding.
Charlie Leboff, Pamela Calle-Mendoza, M. Hatziapostolou et al.· British Journal of Pharmacol...· 0 citations
