Long noncoding RNA HAND2-AS1: A crucial regulator of malignancy

Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) are single-stranded RNAs over 200 nucleotides in length that have no protein-coding function and have long been considered non-functional by-products of transcription. Recent studies have shown that dysregulation of lncRNAs may be involved in the malignant biological behavior of tumors. Targeted regulation of lncRNAs has become a research focus of anti-tumor treatment. LncRNAs heart and neural crest derivatives expressed 2 antisense RNA 1 (HAND2-AS1) was down-regulated in various tumors and can be used as a critical tumor regulator to modulate tumor cells proliferation, apoptosis, metastasis, invasion, metabolism and drug resistance. Additionally, aberrantly expressed HAND2-AS1 was closely related to the clinical pathological characteristics of cancer patients and serve as a promising tumor diagnostic and prognostic biomarker. This article aims to review the roles of HAND2-AS1 in tumorigenesis and development, as well as the underlying molecular mechanisms and clinical significance.