Role of lncRNAs as Novel Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets in Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the leading cause of death among all gynecological malignancies in the world and its underlying mechanism is still unclear. Compared with research on microRNAs, research on long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) is still in its infancy. Studies in recent years have demonstrated that lncRNAs exhibit multiple biological functions in various stages of OC development. In this review, we conclude that lncRNAs are closely involved in the pathogenesis of OC. The expression of lncRNAs indicates the early diagnosis, prognosis, and response to chemotherapy of OC. An attractive approach to treatment of OC is lncRNA small interfering RNA or acting as a plasmid targeting the expression of toxic genes, which is a novel step toward a major breakthrough in the treatment of human OC. E2-regulated lncRNA and its polymorphism, methylation, are also involved in OC. Further research efforts are needed before fully identifying, characterizing, and elucidating the actual functions of lncRNAs in OC at the molecular level and putting them into clinical practice.