Re: Integrative Analyses Reveal a Long Noncoding RNA-Mediated Sponge Regulatory Network in Prostate Cancer

摘要

Editorial Comment: Approximately 70% of the human genome is transcribed but less than 2% of the genome encodes protein. On the basis of size, noncoding RNAs can be classified as small (r200 base pairs) or long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs, 4,200 base pairs). The human genome encodes around 10,000 lncRNA genes and, similar to protein coding genes, some lncRNAs can mediate oncogenesis or tumor suppression and, therefore, are a potential new class of cancer therapeutic targets. Despite this relevance to cancer, only a handful of lncRNAs have been functionally characterized. The prevalence and functional significance of lncRNAmediated sponge regulation and the relevant targets in human cancer are unclear. To address these questions, the authors systematically identified a lncRNA mediated sponge regulatory network of protein coding driver genes in prostate cancer by integrating sequence features and gene expression of lncRNAs and protein coding genes in tumors. The authors also validated the tumor suppressive function of 2 lncRNAs predicted to serve as microRNA sponges and positively regulate PTEN expression. The study shows a prevalent and complex lncRNA mediated sponge regulatory mechanism that may significantly contribute to the aberrant expression of critical protein coding driver genes in prostate cancer. Those sp- lncRNAs may have oncogenic or tumor suppressive function, and perturbation of the lncRNA mediated sponge regulation might be exploited for cancer therapy. The study also suggests the vast functional space of lncRNAs as microRNA sponges in cancer pathogenesis and the plasticity of lncRNAs in performing multiple functions.