Review reveals mechanisms of long non-coding RNAs in cancer stem cells and drug resistance, highlighting opportunities for targeted therapies and biomarker discovery.
Key Points
To summarize the molecular mechanisms through which long non-coding RNAs govern cancer stem cell biology and treatment resistance, while evaluating their potential as clinical biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
Synthesized molecular and biological evidence concerning long non-coding RNA mechanisms, including chromatin remodeling, transcriptional regulation, and stemness pathway activation in cancer stem cells.
Evaluated current and developing therapeutic modalities designed to target long non-coding RNAs, such as antisense oligonucleotides, small interfering RNAs, CRISPR/Cas systems, and nanoparticle delivery vectors.
Long non-coding RNAs drive core cancer stem cell hallmarks—such as self-renewal, metabolic plasticity, immune evasion, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition—by activating critical signaling cascades including Wnt/β-catenin, Notch, Hedgehog, and PI3K/AKT.
Targeting long non-coding RNAs presents a viable strategy to reverse drug resistance and eradicate cancer stem cell populations, although clinical deployment faces challenges from delivery efficiency, off-target effects, and tumor heterogeneity.