Avani A. Deshpande, John H. Lockhart, Marco Napoli, Elsa R. Flores
The fascinating world of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) has expanded significantly over the past two decades, and their characterization has revealed their involvement in a variety of biological processes both in physiological and pathological contexts. Here, we review the crosstalk between lncRNAs and the p53 family of transcription factors in cancer, with particular emphasis on the molecular features that enable cells to become malignant, progress, and metastasize. Finally, we discuss how this knowledge is currently being translated into the clinic, including the use of lncRNAs as biomarkers and therapeutic targets.