Long noncoding RNAs in cancer immunity: a new avenue in drug discovery

Drug Discov Today. 2021 Jan;26(1):264-272. doi: 10.1016/j.drudis.2020.07.026. Epub 2020 Aug 20.

Abstract

The central role of the nonprotein-coding portion of the genome, such as long noncoding (lnc)RNAs is emerging as a hidden player manipulating the immune system in cancer. lncRNAs, in association with their interacting partners, regulate the expression of various immune system genes, which are perturbed during cancer. The tissue-specific expression of lncRNAs and their importance in cellular proliferation, the tumor microenvironment (TME), epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and modulation of the cells of the innate and adaptive immune system have novel therapeutic implications in establishing lncRNAs as biomarkers and targets to overcome cancer-associated immunosuppression. In this review, we establish and strengthen the link between lncRNAs and cancer immunity.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Drug Discovery / methods
  • Drug Discovery / trends
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Immune System Phenomena* / drug effects
  • Immune System Phenomena* / genetics
  • Immune Tolerance / drug effects
  • Immunomodulating Agents / pharmacology*
  • Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms* / immunology
  • RNA, Long Noncoding* / analysis
  • RNA, Long Noncoding* / physiology
  • Tumor Microenvironment / immunology

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Immunomodulating Agents
  • RNA, Long Noncoding