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Review
. 2024 Jan 10;16(2):290.
doi: 10.3390/cancers16020290.

Long Non-Coding RNAs as Regulators for Targeting Breast Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Immune Microenvironment: Biological Properties and Therapeutic Potential

Fang Yang  1   2 , Yiqi Yang  1   2 , Yuling Qiu  1   2 , Lin Tang  3 , Li Xie  1   2 , Xiaoxiang Guan  4
Affiliations
Review

Long Non-Coding RNAs as Regulators for Targeting Breast Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Immune Microenvironment: Biological Properties and Therapeutic Potential

Fang Yang et al. Cancers (Basel). .

Abstract

Breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) is a subpopulation of cancer cells with self-renewal and differentiation capacity, have been suggested to give rise to tumor heterogeneity and biologically aggressive behavior. Accumulating evidence has shown that BCSCs play a fundamental role in tumorigenesis, progression, and recurrence. The development of immunotherapy, primarily represented by programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors, has greatly changed the treatment landscape of multiple malignancies. Recent studies have identified pervasive negative associations between cancer stemness and anticancer immunity. Stemness seems to play a causative role in the formation of cold tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). The multiple functions of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in regulating stemness and immune responses has been recently highlighted in breast cancer. The review focus on lncRNAs and keys pathways involved in the regulation of BCSCs and TIME. Potential clinical applications using lncRNAs as biomarkers or therapies will be discussed.

Keywords: breast cancer stem cell; heterogeneity; lncRNA; therapeutic target; tumor immune microenvironment.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
LncRNAs regulate the key signaling pathways related to stemness in breast cancer.
Figure 2
Figure 2
LncRNAs regulate immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. BCSC, breast cancer stem cell; CAF, carcinoma associated fibroblast; MDSC, myeloid-derived suppressor cell; NK, natural kill cell; ECM, extracellular matrix.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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