Role of long non-coding RNAs and TGF-β signaling in the regulation of breast cancer pathogenesis and therapeutic targets

Abstract

The cytokine known as transforming growth factor (TGF) is essential for cell development, differentiation, and apoptosis in BC. TGF-β dysregulation can either promote or inhibit tumor development, and it is a key signaling pathway in BC spread. A recently identified family of ncRNAs known as lncRNAs has received a great deal of effort and is an important regulator of many cellular processes, including transcription of genes, chromatin remodeling, progression of the cell cycle, and posttranscriptional processing. Furthermore, both TGF-β signaling and lncRNAs serve as important early-stage biomarkers for BC diagnosis and prognosis and also play a significant role in BC drug resistance. According to recent studies, lncRNAs can regulate TGF-β by modulating its cofactors in BC. However, the particular functions of lncRNAs and the TGF-β pathway in controlling BC progression are not well understood yet. This review explores the lncRNAs' functional properties in BC as tumor suppressors or oncogenes in the regulation of genes, with a focus on dysregulated TGF-β signaling. Further, we emphasize the functional roles of lncRNAs and TGF-β pathway in the progression of BC to discover new treatment strategies and better comprehend the fundamental cellular pathways.

Keywords: Breast cancer; Drug resistance; LncRNAs; TGF-β signaling; Therapeutic targets.