Long non-coding RNA regulation of TRAIL in breast cancer: A tangle of non-coding threads

Breast cancer is a complex disease posing a serious threat to the female population worldwide. A complex molecular landscape and tumor heterogeneity render breast cancer cells resistant to drugs and able to promote metastasis and invasiveness. Despite the recent advancements in diagnostics and drug discovery, finding an effective cure for breast cancer is still a major challenge. Positive and negative regulation of apoptosis has been a subject of extensive study over the years. Numerous studies have shed light on the mechanisms that impede the tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) signaling cascade. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been implicated in the orchestration, development, proliferation, differentiation and metastasis of breast cancer. However, the roles of lncRNAs in fine-tuning apoptosis regulating machinery in breast cancer remain to be elucidated. The present review illuminates the roles of these molecules in the regulation of breast cancer and the interplay between lncRNA and TRAIL in breast cancer. The present review also attempts to reveal their role in the regulation of apoptosis in breast cancer appears a promising approach for the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic regimens.