MicroRNAs and long non-coding RNAs as novel targets in anti-cancer drug development

Abstract

Non-coding RNAs comprise the majority of RNAs that have been transcribed from the human genome, and these non-coding RNAs have essential regulatory roles in the cellular processes. They have been discovered to influence the expression of the genes, including tumor-suppressive and oncogenes, that establish the non-coding RNAs as novel targets for anti-cancer drug development. Among non-coding RNAs, microRNAs have been extensively studied in terms of cancer biology, and some microRNA-based therapeutics have been reached in clinical studies. Even though most of the research regarding targeting non-coding RNAs for anti-cancer drug development focused on microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs have also started to gain importance as potential therapeutic targets for cancer therapy. In this chapter, the strategies and importance of targeting microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs will be described, along with the clinical studies that involve microRNA-based cancer therapeutics and preclinical studies that involve long non-coding RNA-based therapeutics. Finally, the delivery strategies that have great importance in the effective delivery of the non-coding RNA-based cancer therapeutics, hence the therapy's effectiveness, will be described.