LncRNAs as key players in the MYC pathways

Abstract

Recent advancements in genomic and computational technologies have identified numerous untranslated noncoding transcripts including long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the human genome. Subsequently, the abundance and functional diversity of lncRNAs have been characterized in cellular and pathological pathways of various diseases and cancer. The transcription factor MYC is one of the most pivotal oncogenes, and the oncogenic pathways of MYC have been thought to be competently elucidated. However, recent studies implicating lncRNAs in the MYC pathways show that our research endeavors and knowledge to this day do not thoroughly elaborate the MYC pathways in cancer. It has been shown in recent studies that lncRNAs employ novel mechanisms to tune MYC activity and orchestrate MYC pathways. Furthermore, a number of lncRNAs that have not been dissected have been profiled and identified in the oncogenic MYC pathways. Thus, the research focusing on lncRNAs provides novel biological knowledge of the MYC pathways and will eventually lead to new potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets in MYC-driven cancers. This review discusses the various functional mechanisms of MYC-associated lncRNAs in MYC activity and MYC pathways.