The Role of Long Non-coding RNAs in Cancer Metabolism: A Concise Review

Dysregulation of metabolic pathways in cancer cells is regarded as a hallmark of cancer. Identification of these abnormalities in cancer cells dates back to more than six decades, far before discovery of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. Based on the importance of these pathways, several researchers have aimed at modulation of these functions to intervene with the pathogenic course of cancer. Numerous genes have been shown to participate in the regulation of metabolic pathways, thus aberrant expression of these genes can be involved in the pathogenesis of cancer. The recent decade has experienced a significant attention toward the role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the biological functions. These transcripts regulate expression of genes at several levels, therefore influencing the activity of cancer-related pathways. Among the most affected pathways are those modulating glucose homeostasis, as well as amino acid and lipid metabolism. Moreover, critical roles of lncRNAs in regulation of mitochondrial function potentiate these transcripts as novel targets for cancer treatment. In the current review, we summarize the most recent literature regarding the role of lncRNAs in the cancer metabolism and their significance in the design of therapeutic modalities.