Noncoding RNAs: Novel Targets in Anticancer Drug Development

Abstract Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) have long been known to play important roles in gene regulation and have attracted attention for their use in medicine. In particular, the utility of ncRNAs for cancer-targeted therapies is being tested in a large number of preclinical and clinical studies. Here, we describe the role of specific ncRNAs, including microRNAs (miRNAs), long noncoding RNAs, small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), PIWI-interacting RNAs, small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs), and sno-derived RNAs. Although a majority of contemporary literature on the topic of ncRNAs in cancer is on miRNAs and siRNAs, the variety of other types are also likely to play major roles in cancer. Many recent studies on the other types of ncRNAs have shown promise in their potential application for treating cancer. The role that these ncRNAs play in various types of cancers and how they can be manipulated to benefit and optimize anticancer drug development will be discussed in this chapter.