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Review
. 2025 Mar 6;42(4):91.
doi: 10.1007/s12032-025-02643-2.

Macrophage-derived lncRNAs in cancer: regulators of tumor progression and therapeutic targets

Muath Suliman  1 , Raed Obaid Saleh  2 , Muktesh Chandra  3 , Khetam Habeeb Rasool  4 , Majid Jabir  5 , Sabrean F Jawad  6 , Thikra F Hasan  7 , Mithilesh Singh  8 , Manmeet Singh  9 , Abhayveer Singh  10
Affiliations
Review

Macrophage-derived lncRNAs in cancer: regulators of tumor progression and therapeutic targets

Muath Suliman et al. Med Oncol. .

Abstract

Macrophages are key tumor microenvironment (TME) regulators, exhibiting remarkable plasticity that enables them to either suppress or promote cancer progression. Emerging evidence highlights the critical role of macrophage-derived long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in shaping tumor immunity, influencing macrophage polarization, immune evasion, angiogenesis, metastasis, and therapy resistance. This review comprehensively elucidates the functional roles of M1- and M2-associated lncRNAs, detailing their molecular mechanisms and impact on cancer pathogenesis. In summary, elucidating the roles of lncRNAs derived from macrophages in cancer progression offers new avenues for therapeutic strategies, significantly improving patient outcomes in the fight against the disease. Further research into the functional significance of these lncRNAs and the development of targeted therapies is essential to harness their potential fully in clinical applications. We further explore their potential as biomarkers for cancer prognosis and therapeutic targets for modulating macrophage activity to enhance anti-cancer immunity. Targeting macrophage-derived lncRNAs represents a promising avenue for precision oncology, offering novel strategies to reshape the TME and improve cancer treatment outcomes.

Keywords: Cancer; Immunopathogenesis; MQ-ncRNAs; Macrophage; lncRNA.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethical approval: Not applicable. Consent to participate: Not applicable.

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