From diagnosis to therapy: The role of LncRNA GAS5 in combatting some cancers affecting women
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a collection of non-coding RNA molecules that consist of more than 200 nucleotides. In human malignancies, these lncRNAs exhibit abnormal expression patterns and play a significant role in either suppressing or promoting tumor growth. They achieve this by modulating various functions and mechanisms within cancer cells, including proliferation, invasion, metastasis, apoptosis, and resistance to different therapeutic approaches. The downregulation of long non-coding RNA growth arrest‑specific transcript 5 (GAS5) has been observed in multiple tumor types, indicating its role as a tumor suppressor in cancer. GAS5 exhibits interactions with various proteins, DNA, and microRNAs (miRNAs), leading to the upregulation of several mRNAs encoding suppressor proteins like PTEN. Consequently, this upregulation inhibits tumor growth. In this review, we have examined the existing literature concerning the expression of GAS5 and its diagnostic significance in female tissue-specific cancers, including breast, cervical, ovarian, and endometrial cancers. Additionally, we have explored its interactions with different miRNAs and its impact on cancer progression and resistance to therapy in these malignancies.