The role of LncRNA MCM3AP-AS1 in human cancer

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA) play pivotal roles in every level of gene and genome regulation. MCM3AP-AS1 is a lncRNA that has an oncogenic role in several kinds of cancers. Aberrant expression of MCM3AP-AS1 has been reported to be involved in the progression of diverse malignancies, including colorectal, cervical, prostate, lymphoma, lung, ovary, liver, bone, and breast cancers. It is generally believed that MCM3AP-AS1 expression is associated with cancer cell growth, proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis. MCM3AP-AS1 by targeting various signaling pathways and microRNAs (miRNAs) presents an important role in cancer pathogenesis. MCM3AP-AS1 as a competitive endogenous RNA has the ability to sponge miRNA, inhibit their expressions, and bind to different target mRNAs related to cancer development. Therefore, MCM3AP-AS1 by targeting several signaling pathways, including the FOX family, Wnt, EGF, and VEGF can be a potent target for cancer prediction and diagnosis. In this review, we will summarize the role of MCM3AP-AS1 in various human cancers.