An update on the role of long non-coding RNAs in the pathogenesis of breast cancer.

Breast cancer is the most frequent female malignancy. This malignancy has diverse clinical and molecular subtypes with different prognoses. Dysregulation of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) not only participates in the development of breast cancer, but also affects the clinical course and prognosis of this type of cancer. Hundreds of studies have shown up-regulation or down-regulation of lncRNAs in breast cancer samples or serum samples of affected individuals suggesting these RNA molecules as diagnostic markers for breast cancer. Different anticancer agents such as trastuzumab, lapatinib, doxorubicin, hydroxyurea, docetaxel, 5-fluorouracil and 6-thioguanine affect expression profile of lncRNAs. In the present article, we review the results of investigations about the role of lncRNAs in the evolution of breast cancer.