Regulatory effects of lncRNAs and miRNAs on the crosstalk between autophagy and EMT in cancer: a new era for cancer treatment

Purpose Autophagy and EMT (epithelial-mesenchymal transition) are the two principal biological processes and ideal therapeutic targets during cancer development. Autophagy, a highly conserved process for degrading dysfunctional cellular components, plays a dual role in tumors depending on the tumor stage and tissue types. The EMT process is the transition differentiation from an epithelial cell to a mesenchymal-like cell and acquiring metastatic potential. There is evidence that the crosstalk between autophagy and EMT is complex in cancer. In recent years, more studies have shown that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in autophagy, EMT, and their crosstalk. Therefore, accurate understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of lncRNAs and miRNAs in autophagy, EMT and their interactions is crucial for the clinical management of cancers. Methods An extensive literature search was conducted on the Google Scholar and PubMed databases. The keywords used for the search included: autophagy, EMT, crosstalk, lncRNAs, miRNAs, cancers, diagnostic biomarkers, and therapeutic targets. This search provided relevant articles published in peer-reviewed journals until 2021. Data from these various studies were extracted and used in this review. Results The results showed that lncRNAs/miRNAs as tumor inhibitors or tumor inducers could regulate autophagy, EMT, and their interaction by regulating several molecular signaling pathways. The lncRNAs/miRNAs involved in autophagy and EMT processes could have potential uses in cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy. Conclusion Such information could help find and develop lncRNAs/miRNAs based new tools for diagnosing, prognosis, and creating anti-cancer therapies.

Automated summary

Autophagy and EMT are two critical biological processes during cancer development. The crosstalk between autophagy and EMT is complex and plays a crucial role in cancer. Recent research has shown that lncRNAs and miRNAs are involved in the regulation of autophagy, EMT, and their interactions. Understanding the regulatory mechanisms of lncRNAs and miRNAs in cancer is important for diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy.