Roles of enhancer RNAs in sex hormone-dependent cancers

Purpose Enhancer RNAs (eRNAs) are non-coding RNAs, which are characterized as transcripts without protein coding functions. Increasing evidence indicates that eRNAs play important roles in gene regulation and cancer progression. Furthermore, various roles of eRNAs in sex hormone-induced signaling pathways are emerging, indicating the important roles of eRNAs in the development of sex hormone-dependent cancers. The aim of this study is to summarize the current knowledge about eRNAs in several typical sex hormone-dependent cancers, mainly involving their roles in sex hormones mediated pathways and cancer progression. Methods We reviewed all the published articles concerning eRNAs in sex hormone-dependent cancers, and summarized the roles of eRNAs in these cancers. Results In cancer development, elevated expression of some eRNAs could promote the progression of cancer cells. In gene regulation, eRNAs not only regulate gene activation but also participate in gene repression. Additionally, in androgen receptor signaling, eRNAs were found to play a role at cis and trans loci, and both sense and antisense strands of eRNAs are both important. Conclusion Abnormal overexpression of eRNAs is mostly oncogenic, leading to cancer progression, and both strands of eRNAs play multiple and complex roles at cis and trans loci in sex hormones mediated pathways, which are tightly associated with sex hormone-dependent tumorigenesis.