Long non-coding RNA growth arrest-specific transcript 5 in tumor biology (Review)

The recognition of the biological relevance of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) molecules has only recently been recognized as one of the most significant advances in contemporary molecular biology. A growing body of evidence indicates that lncRNAs act not only as the intermediary between DNA and protein but also as significant protagonists of cellular functions. The dysregulation of lncRNAs has increasingly been linked to numerous human diseases, particularly cancers. Recent studies have demonstrated that the lncRNA growth arrest-specific transcript 5 (GASS) was pervasively downexpressed in most human cancers compared with non-cancerous adjacent tissues including gastric, breast, lung and prostate cancer. In addition, patients with decreased GASS expression have a significantly poorer prognosis than those with higher expression. Furthermore, GASS is involved in the control of cell apoptosis, proliferation, metastasis, angiogenesis, DNA repair and tumor cell metabolism. This review provides an overview of the current knowledge concerning the role of GASS in tumor expression and biology function.