Long non‑coding RNAs, lipid metabolism and cancer (Review)

Exp Ther Med. 2023 Aug 17;26(4):470. doi: 10.3892/etm.2023.12169. eCollection 2023 Oct.

Abstract

Cancer has emerged as the most common cause of death in China. The change in lipid metabolism has been confirmed to have a role in several tumor types, such as esophageal, gastric, colorectal and liver cancer. Cancer cells use lipid metabolism for energy and then rapidly proliferate, invade and migrate. The main pathway by which cancer cell lipid metabolism influences cancer progression is increased fatty acid synthesis. Long non-coding (lnc)RNAs are important ncRNAs that were indicated to have significant roles in the development of human tumors. They are considered potential tumor biomarkers. Increased lipid synthesis or uptake due to deregulation of lncRNAs contributes to rapid tumor growth. In the present review, current studies on the relationship between lncRNAs, lipid metabolism and the occurrence and development of tumors were collated and summarized, and their mechanism of action was discussed. The review is expected to provide a theoretical basis for tumor treatment and prognosis evaluation based on the effective regulation of lncRNAs and lipid metabolism.

Keywords: cancer; lipid metabolism; long non-coding RNA; signal transduction; therapy.

Publication types

  • Review

Grants and funding

Funding: The present study was supported by grants from the Natural Science Foundation Project of Xizang Autonomous Region (grant no. XZ202101ZR0074G), the major cultivation project of Xizang Minzu University (grant no. 20MDT02), the National Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program for College Students in 2022 (grant no. 202210695033) and the Natural Science Basic Research Plan in Shaanxi Province of China (grant nos. 2020JM-590 and 2022JM-465).