Long non-coding RNAs are a novel class of approximately 15,000 – 20,000 non-protein coding RNAs, having a base length of over 200 nucleotides and are the result of RNA Polymerase II activities. Long non-coding RNAs have only just recently been identified to play a major role in gene regulatory pathways for a wide spectrum of human disease conditions, including multiple cancer models. This review article serves to outline, through recent scientific evidence, the emerging importance of long non-coding RNAs as key biomarkers in cancer diagnostics and therapeutics within the clinical setting. Ultimately, there will be soon the establishment of long non-coding RNA expression profile signature analyses on a par level with other molecular diagnostic techniques such as mRNA and miRNA expression profiles for the identification and monitoring of tumour progression and sensitivity to treatment within the individual cancer patient.

lncRNA, miRNA, cancer, biomarker, diagnosis