Molecular Mechanisms of Tumorgenesis and Metastasis of Long Non-coding RNA (lncRNA) NEAT1 in Human Solid Tumors; An Update

The expression of the nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1), as a well-known long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), is often upregulated in varied types of cancers and associated with poor survival outcomes in patients suffering from tumors. NEAT1 promotes the tumors growth by influencing the various genes’ expression profile that regulate various aspects of tumor cell behavior, in particular tumor growth, metastasis and drug resistance. This suggests that NEAT1 are capable of serving as a new diagnostic biomarker and target for therapeutic intervention. Through interrelation with enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), NEAT1 acts as a scaffold RNA molecule, and thus regulating the expression EZH2-associated genes. Additionally, by perform as miRNA sponge, it constrains suppressing the interactions between miRNAs-mediated degradation of target mRNAs. In light of this, NEAT1 inhibition by small interfering RNA (siRNA) hampers tumorgenesis. We summarize recent findings about the expression, biological functions, and regulatory process of NEAT1 in human tumors. It specifically emphasizes the clinical significance of NEAT1 as a novel diagnostic biomarker and a promising therapeutic mark for many types of cancers.