Involvement of Long Non-Coding RNAs in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Stanojević, Andrea (author), Kunej, Tanja (mentor), Pajič, Tadej (comentor)

This thesis examines the role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the progression of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), with particular focus on immune escape, cell survival, and invasion and metastasis. The work is based on a review and integration of current literature, with emphasis on lncRNAs for which experimentally supported molecular mechanisms have been described. The findings show that lncRNAs can act at several levels of tumor regulation and may have either oncogenic or tumor-suppressive functions. In immune regulation, lncRNAs such as LINK-A and GATA3-AS1 promote immune escape, while LINC01198 supports anti-tumor immune recognition. In the regulation of cell survival, H19 and NEAT1 promote proliferation and resistance to apoptosis, whereas GAS5 and PTCSC3 support tumor-suppressive processes. During invasion and metastasis, MALAT1 and PCAT6 promote metastatic behavior, while LINC00921 suppresses epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and invasion. The reviewed evidence also indicates potential clinical value of lncRNAs as prognostic and predictive biomarkers and as therapeutic targets. However, most available evidence remains preclinical, and the heterogeneity of TNBC and context-dependent functions of lncRNAs currently limit their clinical application. Further validation in larger patient cohorts and more representative experimental models is therefore required.

• Language: English
• Keywords: TNBC, lncRNA, TME, immune escape, metastasis, biomarkers, therapeutic targets
• Work type: Bachelor thesis/paper
• Typology: 2.11 - Undergraduate Thesis
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Year: 2026
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-187063
• COBISS.SI-ID: 290682371
• Publication date in RUL: 09.09.2026

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Vpletenost dolgih nekodirajočih RNA pri trojno negativnem raku dojke

Abstract

V diplomski nalogi je obravnavana vloga dolgih nekodirajočih RNA (lncRNA) pri napredovanju trojno negativnega raka dojke (TNBC), s poudarkom na imunskem pobegu, preživetju celic ter invaziji in metastaziranju. Naloga temelji na pregledu in povezovanju trenutnih znanstvenih spoznanj, pri čemer so v ospredju lncRNA z eksperimentalno potrjenimi molekularnimi mehanizmi. Ugotovitve kažejo, da lahko lncRNA vplivajo na več ravni tumorske regulacije ter delujejo bodisi onkogeno bodisi tumorsko supresivno. Pri imunskem odzivu LINK-A in GATA3-AS1 spodbujata imunski pobeg, medtem ko LINC01198 krepi protitumorsko imunsko prepoznavanje. Pri uravnavanju celičnega preživetja H19 in NEAT1 spodbujata proliferacijo in odpornost proti apoptozi, medtem ko GAS5 in PTCSC3 podpirata tumorsko supresivne procese. Pri invaziji in metastaziranju MALAT1 in PCAT6 spodbujata metastatsko vedenje, LINC00921 pa zavira epitelijsko-mezenhimski prehod in invazijo. Pregledane raziskave kažejo tudi na potencialno klinično uporabnost lncRNA kot prognostičnih in napovednih biooznačevalcev ter terapevtskih tarč. Kljub temu večina dokazov ostaja predkliničnih, heterogenost TNBC in odvisnost funkcije lncRNA od biološkega konteksta pa trenutno omejujeta njihovo klinično uporabo. Za nadaljnji razvoj bodo potrebne potrditve v večjih skupinah bolnikov in bolj reprezentativnih eksperimentalnih modelih.

• Keywords: TNBC, lncRNA, TME, imunski pobeg, metastaziranje, biooznačevalci, terapevtske tarče