Long noncoding RNAs act as regulators of autophagy in cancer.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as critical regulators in various cellular processes. Studies have disclosed an important function of lncRNAs in the regulation of autophagy, a crucial cellular homeostatic mechanism that plays a pro-survival or pro-death role in cancer. Deregulation of lncRNAs can contribute to tumorigenesis and cancer progression, wherein lncRNAs can act as oncogenes or tumor suppressors. In this review, we highlight the recent advances in understanding the relationship between lncRNAs and autophagy regulation in cancer. Exploiting the newly emerging knowledge of the lncRNA-autophagy-cancer axis may provide novel targets for cancer therapy.