Long non-coding RNAs in retinoblastoma

Retinoblastoma represents 3% of all childhood cancers and is the most common intraocular malignant tumor with a highly aggressive and metastatic phenotype. While recent genetic and epigenetic studies have reported new insights into the mechanism of retinoblastoma development, the involvement of regulatory non-coding RNAs remains unclear. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a group of endogenous non-protein-coding RNAs with the capacity to regulate gene expression at multiple levels. Recent evidence has shown that lncRNAs can regulate many cellular processes, such as cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, and invasion. Several lncRNAs, including BANCR, AFAP1-AS1, NEAT1, XIST, ANRIL, PIncRNA-1, HOTAIR, PANDAR, DANCR, and THOR, promote the progression and metastasis of retinoblastoma. However, some lncRNAs, such as MEG3, MT1JP, and H19, play a tumor suppressive role. Our review summarizes the functional role of lncRNAs in retinoblastoma and their potential clinical applications for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.