3.6. Long-Noncoding RNA (LncRNA) Array
More recently, lncRNAs, generally defined as short RNAs greater than 200 nt in length, have risen to prominence with important roles in a broad range of biological processes [60]. LncRNAs regulate gene expression at the level of post-transcriptional processing such as protein synthesis, RNA maturation, transport, cell differentiation, immune responses, and activity and localization of protein coding genes [61,62]. They also exert their effects in transcriptional gene silencing through the regulation of chromatin structure [60,63]. Dysregulation of lncRNAs is associated with many human diseases, including various types of cancers [64]. Many studies have used lncRNA microarrays to demonstrate lncRNA gene expression profiles and the prognostic potential of lncRNA profiles in various cancers [65,66].