Lin Yuning, Lv Zhenyi, Xie Hongyan, Zhao Wenzhen, Pu Ruonan, Zhang Zhongying, Jin Hongwei
Medical Laboratory, Xiamen Humanity Hospital Fujian Medical University, Xiamen, Fujian 361009, P.R. China.
Oncol Lett. 2025 Jul 1;30(3):418. doi: 10.3892/ol.2025.15164. eCollection 2025 Sep.
Esophageal cancer (EC) is a highly prevalent and lethal malignancy of the digestive system, characterized by a complex pathogenesis involving multigene abnormalities and epigenetic regulation. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are key regulatory elements in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). lncRNAs, defined as ncRNA molecules >200 nucleotides in length, modulate gene expression through diverse mechanisms, including epigenetic modification, competing endogenous RNA networks and RNA-protein interactions. lncRNAs participate in regulating key biological processes in ESCC, such as tumor cell proliferation, invasion, metastasis, apoptosis, drug resistance, radioresistance, stem cell properties and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. The present review summarizes the regulatory roles of lncRNAs in ESCC pathophysiology and their potential clinical application, emphasizing specific regulatory axes and mechanistic pathways implicated in esophageal carcinogenesis. Future studies should explore the molecular mechanisms of lncRNAs and their translational application to improve prognostic outcomes for patients with ESCC and identify novel therapeutic targets. These efforts may provide innovative strategies and directions for advancing precision oncology in ESCC management.
食管癌（EC）是消化系统中一种高度常见且致命的恶性肿瘤，其发病机制复杂，涉及多基因异常和表观遗传调控。长链非编码RNA（lncRNA）是食管鳞状细胞癌（ESCC）中的关键调控元件。lncRNA被定义为长度大于200个核苷酸的非编码RNA分子，通过多种机制调节基因表达，包括表观遗传修饰、竞争性内源RNA网络和RNA-蛋白质相互作用。lncRNA参与调节ESCC中的关键生物学过程，如肿瘤细胞增殖、侵袭、转移、凋亡、耐药性、放射抗性、干细胞特性和上皮-间质转化。本综述总结了lncRNA在ESCC病理生理学中的调控作用及其潜在的临床应用，强调了与食管癌发生相关的特定调控轴和机制途径。未来的研究应探索lncRNA的分子机制及其转化应用，以改善ESCC患者的预后并确定新的治疗靶点。这些努力可能为推进ESCC精准肿瘤学管理提供创新策略和方向。
