Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), which occupy the vast majority of human transcripts are known for their inability to encode
proteins. NcRNAs consist of a diverse range of
RNA species, including long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), which have significant meaning for epigenetic modification, post-transcriptional regulation of target genes, molecular interference, etc. The dysregulation of ncRNAs will mediate the pathogenesis of diverse human diseases, like
cancer.
Pancreatic cancer, as one of the most lethal
malignancies in the digestive system that is hard to make a definite diagnosis at an early clinicopathological stage with a miserable prognosis. Therefore, the identification of potential and clinically applicable
biomarker is momentous to improve the overall survival rate and positively ameliorate the prognosis of patients with
pancreatic carcinoma. LncRNAs as one kind of ncRNAs exert multitudinous biological functions, and act as molecular sponges, relying on
microRNA response elements (MREs) to competitively target
microRNAs (
miRNAs), thereby attenuating the degradation or inhibition of
miRNAs to their own downstream
protein-coding target genes, also thus regulating the initiation and progression of
neoplasms. LncRNAs, which emerge aforementioned function are called competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs). Consequently, abundant research of lncRNAs as potential
biomarkers is of critical significance for the molecular diagnosis, targeted
therapy, as well as prognosis monitoring of
pancreatic cancer.