Laboratory of Experimental Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Milano, Italy.
Department of Athletics, Strength and Conditioning, Poznań University of Physical Education, Poznań, Poland.
Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2023 Apr 17;14:1156494. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1156494. eCollection 2023.
In a precision medicine perspective, among the biomarkers potentially useful for early diagnosis of cancers, as well as to define their prognosis and eventually to identify novel and more effective therapeutic targets, there are the long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). The term lncRNA identifies a class of non-coding RNA molecules involved in the regulation of gene expression that intervene at the transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and epigenetic level. Metastasis is a natural evolution of some malignant tumours, frequently encountered in patients with advanced cancers. Onset and development of metastasis represents a detrimental event that worsen the patient's prognosis by profoundly influencing the quality of life and is responsible for the ominous progression of the disease. Due to the peculiar environment and the biomechanical properties, bone is a preferential site for the secondary growth of breast, prostate and lung cancers. Unfortunately, only palliative and pain therapies are currently available for patients with bone metastases, while no effective and definitive treatments are available. The understanding of pathophysiological basis of bone metastasis formation and progression, as well as the improvement in the clinical management of the patient, are central but challenging topics in basic research and clinical practice. The identification of new molecular species that may have a role as early hallmarks of the metastatic process could open the door to the definition of new, and more effective, therapeutic and diagnostic approaches. Non-coding RNAs species and, particularly, lncRNAs are promising compounds in this setting, and their study may bring to the identification of relevant processes. In this review, we highlight the role of lncRNAs as emerging molecules in mediating the formation and development of bone metastases, as possible biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and prognosis, and as therapeutic targets to counteract cancer spread.
从精准医学的角度来看，长链非编码 RNA（lncRNAs）是一种有潜力的生物标志物，可用于癌症的早期诊断，定义其预后，并最终确定新的、更有效的治疗靶点。lncRNA 是一类参与基因表达调控的非编码 RNA 分子，可在转录、转录后和表观遗传水平发挥作用。转移是一些恶性肿瘤的自然演变，在晚期癌症患者中经常发生。转移的发生和发展是一个不利事件，通过深刻影响生活质量，使患者的预后恶化，并导致疾病的不祥进展。由于特殊的环境和生物力学特性，骨骼是乳腺癌、前列腺癌和肺癌继发性生长的首选部位。不幸的是，目前只有姑息和止痛疗法可用于骨转移患者，而没有有效的治疗方法。理解骨转移形成和进展的病理生理基础，以及改善患者的临床管理，是基础研究和临床实践中的核心但具有挑战性的课题。鉴定可能作为转移过程早期标志物的新分子种类，可能为定义新的、更有效的治疗和诊断方法开辟道路。非编码 RNA 种类，特别是 lncRNAs，在这种情况下是很有前途的化合物，对它们的研究可能会发现相关的过程。在这篇综述中，我们强调了 lncRNAs 作为介导骨转移形成和发展的新兴分子的作用，作为癌症诊断和预后的可能生物标志物，以及作为对抗癌症扩散的治疗靶点。
