Long Non-Coding RNAs as Novel Targets for Phytochemicals to Cease Cancer Metastasis

Metastasis is a multi-step phenomenon during cancer development leading to the propagation of cancer cells to distant organ(s). According to estimations, metastasis results in over 90% of cancer-associated death around the globe. Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) are a group of regulatory RNA molecules more than 200 base pairs in length. The main regulatory activity of these molecules is the modulation of gene expression. They have been reported to affect different stages of cancer development including proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion, and metastasis. An increasing number of medical data reports indicate the probable function of LncRNAs in the metastatic spread of different cancers. Phytochemical compounds, as the bioactive agents of plants, show several health benefits with a variety of biological activities. Several phytochemicals have been demonstrated to target LncRNAs to defeat cancer. This review article briefly describes the metastasis steps, summarizes data on some well-established LncRNAs with a role in metastasis, and identifies the phytochemicals with an ability to suppress cancer metastasis by targeting LncRNAs.

Automated summary

Metastasis is a multi-step process that leads to the spread of cancer cells to distant organs. Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) are regulatory RNA molecules that modulate gene expression and have been implicated in various stages of cancer development, including metastasis. Phytochemical compounds derived from plants have shown potential in targeting LncRNAs to inhibit cancer metastasis. This review article provides an overview of metastasis steps, discusses well-established LncRNAs involved in metastasis, and highlights the role of phytochemicals in targeting LncRNAs to suppress cancer metastasis.