Small Non-Coding-RNA in Gynecological Malignancies

Simple Summary Gynecologic malignancies are among the leading cause of female mortality worldwide, and their management is complicated by late diagnosis and acquired therapy resistance. Although altered DNA code, leading to aberrant protein expression, is indispensable for cancer initiation and progression, from the current literature it is clear that, not only proteins, but also noncoding RNA, which does not translate into proteins, can also be instrumental. Based on their size, noncoding RNA, are further classified into long and small noncoding RNA. Here, we have comprehensively reviewed the literature about the role of small noncoding RNAs in gynecological malignancies, and discussed how these small noncoding RNA can be vital for diagnosis and therapy. Gynecologic malignancies, which include cancers of the cervix, ovary, uterus, vulva, vagina, and fallopian tube, are among the leading causes of female mortality worldwide, with the most prevalent being endometrial, ovarian, and cervical cancer. Gynecologic malignancies are complex, heterogeneous diseases, and despite extensive research efforts, the molecular mechanisms underlying their development and pathology remain largely unclear. Currently, mechanistic and therapeutic research in cancer is largely focused on protein targets that are encoded by about 1% of the human genome. Our current understanding of 99% of the genome, which includes noncoding RNA, is limited. The discovery of tens of thousands of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), possessing either structural or regulatory functions, has fundamentally altered our understanding of genetics, physiology, pathophysiology, and disease treatment as they relate to gynecologic malignancies. In recent years, it has become clear that ncRNAs are relatively stable, and can serve as biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and prognosis, as well as guide therapy choices. Here we discuss the role of small non-coding RNAs, i.e., microRNAs (miRs), P-Element induced wimpy testis interacting (PIWI) RNAs (piRNAs), and tRNA-derived small RNAs in gynecological malignancies, specifically focusing on ovarian, endometrial, and cervical cancer.

Automated summary

Gynecologic malignancies are a leading cause of female mortality globally, and studies have shown that small noncoding RNAs play a significant role in the development of these diseases. Despite the unclear molecular mechanisms underlying gynecologic malignancies, noncoding RNAs have been identified as having potential importance in cancer diagnosis and therapy.