Long Intergenic Non-Protein Coding RNA 173 in Human Cancers

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Numerous studies have shown that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) can regulate the development and progression of human cancers in various ways. Long intergenic non-coding RNA 173 (LINC00173), as a recently discovered non-coding gene, is dysregulated in 11 human cancers. Its aberrant expression is closely associated with diversified biological processes such as proliferation, migration, and invasion. This review systematically summarizes the latest findings concerning the expression and the regulatory mechanisms of LINC00173, which covers the tumorigenesis and chemoresistance, and regulatory targets of LINC00173, thus providing a novel biomarker for cancer prognosis and a therapeutic target. ABSTRACT: Long non-coding RNAs belong to non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) with a length of more than 200 nucleotides and limited protein-coding ability. Growing research has clarified that dysregulated lncRNAs are correlated with the development of various complex diseases, including cancer. LINC00173 has drawn researchers’ attention as one of the recently discovered lncRNAs. Aberrant expression of LINC00173 affects the initiation and progression of human cancers. In the present review, we summarize the recent considerable research on LINC00173 in 11 human cancers. Through the summary of the abnormal expression of LINC00173 and its potential molecular regulation mechanism in cancers, this article indicates that LINC00173 may serve as a potential diagnostic biomarker and a target for drug therapy, thus providing novel clues for future related research.