Long Non-Coding RNAs (lncRNAs) as Regulators of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway in Gastric Carcinoma

Gastric cancer (GC) represents similar to 10% of the global cancer-related deaths, increasingly affecting the younger population in active stages of life. The high mortality of GC is due to late diagnosis, the presence of metastasis and drug resistance development. Additionally, current clinical markers do not guide the patient management adequately, thereby new and more reliable biomarkers and therapeutic targets are still needed for this disease. RNA-seq technology has allowed the discovery of new types of RNA transcripts including long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), which are able to regulate the gene/protein expression of many signaling pathways (e.g., the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway) in cancer cells by diverse molecular mechanisms. In addition, these lncRNAs might also be proposed as promising diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers or as potential therapeutic targets in GC. This review describes important topics about some lncRNAs that have been described as regulators of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, and hence, their potential oncogenic role in the development of this malignancy.

Automated summary

Gastric cancer is a significant cause of cancer-related deaths, particularly among younger people. Late diagnosis, metastasis, and drug resistance contribute to the high mortality rate of gastric cancer. There is a need for new biomarkers and therapeutic targets. RNA-seq technology has identified long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) as potential regulators of cancer cells' signaling pathways, including the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, and they may serve as diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers or therapeutic targets for gastric cancer.