The Role of Non-coding RNAs in Oncology

For decades, research into cancer biology focused on the involvement of protein-coding genes. Only recently was it discovered that an entire class of molecules, termed non-coding RNA (ncRNA), plays key regulatory roles in shaping cellular activity. An explosion of studies into ncRNA biology has since shown that they represent a diverse and prevalent group of RNAs including both oncogenic molecules and those that work in a tumor suppressive manner. As a result, hundreds of cancer-focused clinical trials involving ncRNAs as novel biomarkers or therapies have begun, and these are likely just the beginning.