Long Non-Coding RNAs and Metabolic Rewiring in Pancreatic Cancer

Abstract

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is a highly aggressive disease with a poor prognosis. The reprogramming of energetic metabolism has long been implicated in pancreatic tumorigenesis and/or resistance to treatment. Considering that long non-coding RNA dysregulation has been described both in cancerogenesis and in the altered homeostasis of several metabolic pathways, metabolism-associated lncRNAs can contribute to pancreatic cancer evolution. The objective of this review is to assess the burden of lncRNA dysregulation in pancreatic cancer metabolic reprogramming, and its effect on this tumor’s natural course and response to treatment. Therefore, we reviewed the available literature to assess whether metabolism-associated lncRNAs have been found to be differentially expressed in pancreatic cancer, as well as whether experimental evidence of their role in such pathways can be demonstrated. Specifically, we provide a comprehensive overview of lncRNAs that are implicated in hypoxia-related pathways, as well as in the reprogramming of autophagy, lipid metabolism, and amino acid metabolism. Our review gathers background material for further research on possible applications of metabolism-associated lncRNAs as diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers and/or as potential therapeutic targets in pancreatic adenocarcinoma.