Aug 2026· British Journal of Pharmacology· 0 citations· 191 references
Medicine
TL;DR
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.
Abstract
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), a broad class of non-protein-coding RNAs, are characterized as new regulators of gene expression at the epigenetic, transcriptional, and post-transcriptional level. Thus, lncRNAs are involved in the regulation of physiological processes and the development of human diseases and cancer by modulating proinflammatory, oncogenic and proangiogenic pathways. Inflammation, cancer and angiogenesis are interlinked through a network of signals and pathways that reinforces itself through feedback loops. Inflammation triggers vessel formation to transfer immune cells and nutrients, and consequently the new vessels enhance the supply of inflammatory cells and factors. Chronic inflammation induces oncogenic transformation and angiogenesis, induced by tumour-derived signals, support tumour growth and provide the route for distal metastasis. Here we review the implication of lncRNAs in these processes and interactions in the gastrointestinal tract, with a special focus on inflammation and cancer angiogenesis. LncRNAs, due to their highly cell-, tissue- and disease-specific expression, are attractive targets for the development of novel therapeutics with limited off-target effects and toxicity. We discuss new discoveries which highlight the value of lncRNA targeting as therapeutic applications, in gastrointestinal inflammation and cancer angiogenesis, and identify gaps in our current knowledge and understanding. We illustrate advancing approaches, their advantages and challenges for the pharmacological targeting of lncRNAs.
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
Colorectal cancer (CRC) and diabetes mellitus are major global health burdens that frequently coexist and share overlapping metabolic and molecular abnormalities. Accumulating epidemiological evidence indicates that diabetes is associated with an increased risk of CRC; however, the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely defined. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have recently emerged as important regulators of gene expression and cellular signaling, with critical roles in both metabolic disorders and cancer. In this review, we summarize current evidence on key lncRNAs that are implicated in the shared molecular networks linking diabetes and CRC. These lncRNAs modulate multiple signaling pathways, including PI3K/AKT, Wnt/β-catenin, NF-κB–mediated inflammation, hypoxia-associated signaling, metabolic reprogramming, angiogenesis, and epigenetic regulation. Through interactions with microRNAs (miRNAs), transcription factors, and chromatin-modifying complexes, they influence key biological processes such as insulin signaling, glucose metabolism, epithelial–mesenchymal transition, oxidative stress responses, and tumor progression. Elucidating the roles of lncRNAs provides important insight into the molecular interplay between metabolic dysfunction and colorectal tumorigenesis. Notably, many lncRNAs are detectable in circulating fluids, highlighting their potential as non-invasive biomarkers for early detection and risk assessment in diabetic populations at increased risk of CRC. Furthermore, targeting dysregulated lncRNAs may offer novel therapeutic opportunities to simultaneously modulate metabolic and oncogenic pathways. Overall, integrating lncRNA biology into the study of CRC and diabetes may advance our understanding of disease mechanisms and support the development of improved diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
Lu Zhang, Min Li· Frontiers in Molecular Biosc...· 0 citations
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignant neoplasm characterized by high incidence and mortality rates globally. Its pathogenesis and progression are intricate and multifaceted, necessitating comprehensive analysis and elucidation. Recent studies have demonstrated that non-coding RNAs (such as long non-coding RNAs, circular RNAs, and microRNAs) and alternative splicing, which are central to post-transcriptional regulation, engage in extensive regulatory interactions. These interactions form a complex regulatory network that significantly influences the malignant properties such as stemness, proliferation, invasion, metastasis, metabolic reprogramming, tumor microenvironment, and drug sensitivity in liver cancer cells. This review systematically explores the molecular mechanisms underlying the interactions between non-coding RNAs and alternative splicing events, highlighting the role of this regulatory network in modulating the expression of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes in HCC. Additionally, this review investigates the prospective application of pivotal molecules within this regulatory network as novel diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. It also analyzes the challenges and obstacles encountered in the clinical translation process, thereby providing new insights for research on the precision diagnosis and treatment of HCC.
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
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.
Maria Lteif, Assia Hijazi, E. Morgand et al.· Oncoimmunology· 0 citations