Interplay between small and long non‐coding RNAs in cutaneous melanoma: a complex jigsaw puzzle with missing pieces

The incidence of cutaneous melanoma (CM) has increased in the past few decades. The biology of melanoma is characterized by a complex interaction between genetic, environmental and phenotypic factors. A greater understanding of the molecular mechanisms that promote melanoma cell growth and dissemina...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mattia Riefolo, Elisa Porcellini, Emi Dika, Elisabetta Broseghini, Manuela Ferracin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2019-01-01
Series:Molecular Oncology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/1878-0261.12412
Description
Summary:The incidence of cutaneous melanoma (CM) has increased in the past few decades. The biology of melanoma is characterized by a complex interaction between genetic, environmental and phenotypic factors. A greater understanding of the molecular mechanisms that promote melanoma cell growth and dissemination is crucial to improve diagnosis, prognostication, and treatment of CM. Both small and long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified to play a role in melanoma biology; microRNA and lncRNA expression is altered in transformed melanocytes and this in turn has functional effects on cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, metastasis, and immune response. Moreover, specific dysregulated ncRNAs were shown to have a diagnostic or prognostic role in melanoma and to drive the establishment of drug resistance. Here, we review the current literature on small and lncRNAs with a role in melanoma, with the aim of putting into some order this complex jigsaw puzzle.
ISSN:1574-7891
1878-0261