Noncoding RNA in cancer: pathogenesis to therapeutic targets

In the human genome, most transcribed RNA does not translate into protein, yet it plays a crucial role in gene expression regulation. This ‘dark matter of the genome’ is called noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), which are involved in the pathogenesis of different diseases, viz., cancer. According to the length of nucleotides, ncRNAs are categorised into long ncRNAs (lncRNAs) or small ncRNAs. Recent emerging studies are exploring the massive role of ncRNAs behind pathophysiology and the scope of utilising these huge segments as diagnostic and prognostic indicators, as well as therapeutic targets of cancer. This brief and succinct review will focus on recent publications on the status and major contribution of ncRNAs in cancer, ranging from pathogenesis and diagnosis to prognosis and therapy.