Long non-coding RNA TINCR as potential biomarker and therapeutic target for cancer

Abstract

Despite the recent scientific advances made in cancer diagnostics and therapeutics, cancer still remains the second leading cause of death worldwide. Thus, there is a need to identify new potential biomarkers/molecular targets to improve the diagnosis and treatment of cancer patients. In this regard, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), a type of non-coding RNA molecule, have been found to play important roles in diverse biological processes, including tumorigenesis, and may provide new biomarkers and/or molecular targets for the improved detection of treatment of cancer. For example, one lncRNA, tissue differentiation-inducing non-protein coding RNA (TINCR) has been found to be significantly dysregulated in many cancers, and has an impact on tumor development and progression through targeting pivotal molecules in cancer-associated signaling pathways. Hence, based on recent discoveries, herein, we discuss the regulatory functions and the underlying mechanisms of how TINCR regulates signaling pathways attributed to cancer hallmarks associated with the pathogenesis of various human cancers. We also highlight studies assessing its potential clinical utility as a biomarker/target for early detection, cancer risk stratification, and personalized cancer therapies.

Keywords: Biomarker; Cancer; LncRNA; Long non-coding RNA; TINCR; Tissue differentiation-inducing non-protein coding RNA.

Figure 1:

Relative gene expression levels of lncRNA TINCR in various cancers obtained from the TCGA database GEPIA (http://gepia.cancer-pku.cn). (Log₂FC Cutoff = 1, p-value cut off = 0.01, jitter size =0.4). Analysis was performed using matched TCGA normal and GTEx data.

Figure 2:

Potential regulatory mechanisms of TINCR in the development and progression of a variety of cancer types.