Genome-wide analysis reveals the emerging roles of long non-coding RNAs in cancer.

Cancer is the most intractable human disease that is primarily caused by genetic alterations. Recently, the general application of microarrays and high-throughput sequencing technology has revealed various important roles of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in cancer. This review summarizes the function, mechanism, diagnostic and treatment potential of lncRNAs identified through genome-wide analysis in cancer. Cell-, tissue- and development stage-specific expression patterns are major characteristics of cancer-associated lncRNAs, and various genetic alterations are also implicated. Microarray and sequencing analyses serve important roles in mechanistic studies of either nuclear or cytoplasmic lncRNAs. Collectively, genome-wide analysis is the inexorable trend of future studies or clinical applications of lncRNAs and offers a novel perspective regarding the prognosis and treatment of cancer.