Role of long noncoding RNAs in malignant disease (Review).

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are endogenous transcribed RNA molecules without protein-coding potential, ranging between 200 and 100,000 nt in length. LncRNAs regulate the expression of specific genes in several ways, including guiding chromatin-remodeling, and affecting splicing, transcription or translation. The mutations and dysregulation of lncRNAs have been found to be important in various human diseases, but particularly in human cancer. Previous studies have demonstrated that changes to lncRNAs are closely associated with tumorigenesis, metastasis, prognosis and diagnosis. The current review aims to present a brief overview of the associated reports of lncRNAs in malignant neoplasms, including breast cancer, prostate cancer and hematological malignancies. LncRNAs may be evaluated as novel markers in disease diagnosis, and as prospective therapeutic targets for the prevention and treatment of human diseases.