Introduction: LncRNAs can be considered as potential factors for targeting in cancer therapy, since they regulate a bunch of biological processes, e.g. cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. The abnormal expression of lncRNAs occurs in different cancer cells. On the other hand, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a critical mechanism participating in migration and metastasis of cancer cells.
Methods: Different databases, including Google Scholar, Pubmed and Science direct, were searched for collecting articles using keywords such as “LncRNA”, “EMT”, and “Lung cancer”.
Results: There are tumor-suppressing lncRNAs that can suppress EMT and metastasis of lung cancer cells. Expression of such lncRNAs undergoes down-regulation in lung cancer progression and restoring their expression is of importance in suppressing lung cancer migration. There are tumor- promoting lncRNAs triggering EMT in lung cancer and enhancing their migration.
Conclusion: LncRNAs are potential regulators of EMT in lung cancer, and targeting them, both pharmacologically and genetically, can be of importance in controlling the migration of lung cancer cells.