The role of noncoding RNAs in the tumor microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma

• Published in: Acta biochimica et biophysica Sinica Vol. 55; no. 11; pp. 1697 - 1706
• Main Authors: Yang, Qianqian, Tian, Hui, Guo, Ziyi, Ma, Zhongliang, Wang, Guangzhi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: China China Science Publishing & Media Ltd 25.11.2023
• Subjects: Biomarkers; Carcinogenesis; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - pathology; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; hepatocellular carcinoma; HIF-1α; Humans; Hypoxia; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; Liver Neoplasms - pathology; MicroRNAs - genetics; noncoding RNAs; RNA, Long Noncoding - genetics; tumor microenvironment; Tumor Microenvironment - genetics; HIF-1α; tumor microenvironment; noncoding RNAs; hepatocellular carcinoma
• ISSN: 1672-9145; 1745-7270; 1745-7270
• DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2023231

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the leading fatal malignancy worldwide. The tumor microenvironment (TME) can affect the survival, proliferation, migration, and even dormancy of cancer cells. Hypoxia is an important component of the TME, and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) is the most important transcriptional regulator. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs (miRNAs), long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), comprise a large part of the human transcriptome and play an important role in regulating the tumorigenesis of HCC. This review discusses the role of ncRNAs in hepatocarcinogenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and angiogenesis in a hypoxic microenvironment, as well as the interactions between ncRNAs and key components of the TME. It further discusses their use as biomarkers and the potential clinical value of drugs, as well as the challenges faced in the future.