Role of Noncoding RNAs in the Tumor Immune Microenvironment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent malignancies. It has high mortality and poor clinical outcomes, but the molecular mechanisms in the pathogenesis of HCC are not understood. The tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) is a highly intricate system with distinct populations of innate and adaptive immune cells, as well as other stromal cells. They interact and evolve with tumor cells to influence tumor growth, migration, invasion, immune evasion, and response to therapy. Emerging evidence has shown noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are prominent regulators of TIME in HCC. In this review, we elaborate on the functions and molecular mechanisms of ncRNAs in remodeling TIME of HCC and discuss their diagnostic and therapeutic potential for HCC treatment.