Role of Long Non Coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in Colorectal Cancer

Background: Long non-coding RNAs, or lncRNAs are known as a diverse class of RNA transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides that do not encode proteins. Although lncRNAs were once thought to be transcriptional "noise," developments in transcriptomics and genomics have demonstrated that they are essential for post-transcriptional alterations, chromatin remodeling, transcriptional control, and gene regulation. They play a role in a variety of biological processes, such as immune response, tumor growth, cell differentiation, and epigenetic control. Since lncRNA dysregulation has been connected to a wide range of illnesses, including cancer, heart disease, neurological conditions, and metabolic syndromes, it holds promise as a diagnostic biomarker and a possible target for treatment. In colorectal cancer (CRC), lncRNAs have important and complex functions that affect the disease's genesis, course, metastasis, and response to treatment. Conclusion: lncRNAs represent a critical layer of gene regulation in colorectal cancer. Their dysregulation influences nearly every aspect of CRC biology, from initiation to metastasis and treatment resistance. Understanding these molecules offers promising avenues for diagnostic biomarkers and targeted therapies, potentially improving patient outcomes.