New insights into long noncoding RNAs and their roles in glioma

Glioma is one of the most prevalent types of primary intracranial carcinoma with varying malignancy grades I–IV and histological subtypes, including astrocytomas, glioblastoma multiform (GBM), oligodendrogliomas and mixed tumors. Glioma is characterized by rapid cell proliferation and angiogenesis, and the WHO grade IV glioblastoma, which is highly malignant with poor prognosis because GBM stem-like cells (GSCs) are resistant to conventional therapy and easily recrudescent, accounts for the majority of gliomas. Consequently, investigations exploring the accurate molecular mechanisms and reliable therapeutic targets for gliomas have drawn extensive attention. Based on the increasing amount of functional lncRNAs aberrantly expressed in glioma tissues and cell lines, lncRNAs might be critical for glioma initiation, progression and other malignant phenotypes. This review summarizes the latest insights into the lncRNA field and their functional roles in glioma, therefore evaluating the potential clinical applications of lncRNAs as prospective novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets.