Long noncoding RNA LINC00930 promotes PFKFB3-mediated tumor glycolysis and cell proliferation in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Metabolic reprogramming is a hallmark of cancer. However, the roles of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in cancer metabolism, especially glucose metabolism remain largely unknown. RESULTS: In this study, we identified and functionally characterized a novel metabolism-related lncRNA, LINC00930, which was upregulated and associated with tumorigenesis, lymphatic invasion, metastasis, and poor prognosis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Functionally, LINC00930 was required for increased glycolysis activity and cell proliferation in multiple NPC models in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, LINC00930 served as a scaffold to recruit the RBBP5 and GCN5 complex to the PFKFB3 promoter and increased H3K4 trimethylation and H3K9 acetylation levels in the PFKFB3 promoter region, which epigenetically transactivating PFKFB3, and thus promoting glycolytic flux and cell cycle progression. Clinically, targeting LINC00930 and PFKFB3 in combination with radiotherapy induced tumor regression. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, LINC00930 is mechanistically, functionally and clinically oncogenic in NPC. Targeting LINC00930 and its pathway may be meaningful for treating patients with NPC. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13046-022-02282-9.