Long noncoding RNAs: Undeciphered cellular codes encrypting keys of colorectal cancer pathogenesis

Long noncoding RNAs are non-protein coding transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides in length. By the advance in genetic and bioinformatic technologies, the new genomic landscape including noncoding transcripts has been revealed. Despite their non-capacity to be translated into proteins, IncRNAs have a versatile functions through various mechanisms interacting with other cellular molecules including DNA, protein, and RNA. Recent research interest and endeavor have identified the functional role of IncRNAs in various diseases including cancer. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is not only one of the most frequent cancer but also one of the cancer types with remarkable achievements in IncRNA research. Of the numerous notable IncRNAs identified and characterized in CRC, we will focus on key IncRNAs with the high potential as CRC-specific biomarkers in this review. (C) 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.