Conceptual breakthroughs of the long noncoding RNA functional system and its endogenous regulatory role in the cancerous regime - Open Access Review

Q: What causes controversy about the basic concept of lncRNA functions?

The controversy is mainly attributed to conventional biased observations based on limited datasets.

Q: How do emerging big-data studies improve understanding of lncRNA biology?

Big data helps bypass conventional bias, enabling a more unbiased big-picture understanding of lncRNA biology and advancing fundamental principles across cancers.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Finn

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) once treated as biologically meaningless are now recognized as highly functional molecules, yet only a small fraction (<1%) has been biologically characterized. Conflicting interpretations of lncRNA functions stem mainly from biased conclusions drawn from limited datasets. Big-data approaches can overcome conventional bias and provide a more comprehensive view across cancers. This review synthesizes big-data findings on lncRNA functional systems and endogenous regulatory roles, highlighting cancer-wide regulation via key hubs and top inducers.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

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Pages17

Reading Time43 min

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Abstract

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Introduction

Exploration of Targeted Anti-tumor Therapy Open Access Review Conceptual breakthroughs ofthe long noncoding RNA functional system and its endogenous regulatory role in the cancerous regime * Anyou Wang Feinstone Center for Genomic Research, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USA *Correspondence: Anyou Wang, Feinstone Center for Genomic Research, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USA. [anyou.wang@alumni.ucr.edu](anyou.wang@alumni.ucr.edu) Academic Editor: Luca Agnelli, University of Milan, Italy; Nicola Normanno, Istituto Nazionale Tumori-IRCCS-Fondazione G. Pascale, Italy Received: August 29, 2023 Accepted: December 18, 2023 Published: February 27, 2024 Cite this article: Wang A. Conceptual breakthroughs of the long noncoding RNA functional system and its endogenous regulatory role in the cancerous regime. Explor Target Antitumor Ther. 2024;5:170–86. [https://doi.org/10.37349/etat.2024](https://doi.org/10.37349/etat.2024) . 00211 Abstract Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) derived from noncoding regions in the human genome were once regarded as junks with no biological significance, but recent studies have shown that these molecules are highly functional, prompting an explosion of studies on their biology. However, these recent efforts have only begun to recognize the biological significance of a small fraction (< 1%) of the lncRNAs. The basic concept of these lncRNA functions remains controversial. This controversy arises primarily from conventional biased observations based on limited datasets. Fortunately, emerging big data provides a promising path to circumvent conventional bias to understand an unbiased big picture of lncRNA biology and advance the fundamental principles of lncRNA biology. This review focuses on big data studies that break through the critical concepts ofthe lncRNA functional system and its endogenous regulatory roles in all cancers. lncRNAs have unique functional systems distinct from proteins, such as transcriptional initiation and regulation, and they abundantly interact with mitochondria and consume less energy. lncRNAs, rather than proteins as traditionally thought, function as the most critical endogenous regulators of all cancers. lncRNAs regulate the cancer regulatory regime by governing the endogenous regulatory network of all cancers. This is accomplished by dominating the regulatory network module and serving as a key hub and top inducer. These critical conceptual breakthroughs lay a blueprint for a comprehensive functional picture of the human genome. They also lay a blueprint for combating human diseases that are regulated by lncRNAs. Keywords Big data, long noncoding RNA, noncoding RNA, cancer, function, endogenous, regulatory role Introduction Noncoding regions occupy more than 98% of the human genome, and almost all of them (> 93%) are actively transcribed [1–3]. These transcripts are dominated by long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), including © The Author(s) 2024. This is an Open Access article licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License ([https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)), which permits unrestricted use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, for any purpose, even commercially, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. Explor Target Antitumor Ther. 2024;5:170–86 | [https://doi.org/10.37349/etat.2024.00211](https://doi.org/10.37349/etat.2024.00211) Page 170 lncRNAs, antisense RNAs, and pseudogenes in the present review. The transcription of lncRNAs requires a large amount of energy in the human genome. Theoretically, energy consumption generates a function to fit the low-energy law in a stable physical system. Therefore, all energy-consuming lncRNAs hypothetically carry a certain degree of biological fun

FAQs

Why are lncRNAs considered to have limited known biological significance?

Research has shown that lncRNAs are functional, but only a small fraction (<1%) has been recognized as biologically significant, leaving most roles unresolved.

What causes controversy about the basic concept of lncRNA functions?

The controversy is mainly attributed to conventional biased observations based on limited datasets.

How do emerging big-data studies improve understanding of lncRNA biology?

Big data helps bypass conventional bias, enabling a more unbiased big-picture understanding of lncRNA biology and advancing fundamental principles across cancers.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Finn