Non-coding RNAs in cancer: multi-omics insights, liquid biopsy advances, drug resistance mechanisms, and the road to clinical translation

Abstract

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.