Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a group of RNAs that lack
protein-coding ability, with lengths greater than 200
nucleotides. Increasing evidence has indicated that they mediate multiple physiological and
pathological processes by regulating gene expression at the epigenetic, transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and translational levels. The deregulation of lncRNAs was demonstrated to have
tumor suppressive or oncogenic effects, and thus, these molecules play vital regulatory roles in
tumor initiation and progression.
Small nucleolar RNA hostgene 7 (SNHG7) is a
lncRNA located on chromosome 9q34.3. Different studies have explored the potential role of SNHG7 in the development and progression of multiple human
malignancies such as bladder, breast, colorectal, esophageal, gastric, and
prostate cancer, as well as
osteosarcoma, among others, and high expression predicts poor prognosis and poor survival for such patients. Moreover, this molecule can promote proliferation and
metastasis, while inhibiting apoptosis in
cancer cells. The present review highlights the latest insights into the expression, functional roles, and molecular mechanisms of SNHG7 in different human
malignancies.