B-Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and B-Cell Lymphomas: The Key Role of Micro and Long Noncoding RNAs

Abstract

B-cell chronic malignancies, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia and lymphomas, are among the most common blood malignancies. Conventional therapies for these lymphoproliferative diseases include chemotherapy and radiotherapy. However, treating these types of cancer is still challenging due to developing resistance to chemotherapy drugs and even novel agents like immunochemotherapy. Therefore, many studies are underway to clarify the mechanisms involved in this phenomenon. Recently, the role of noncoding RNAs in regulating gene expression has been well documented in the literature. microRNAs are small noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression at transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels. Long noncoding RNAs are involved in cell differentiation and tissue development via transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation. Several miRNAs regulate B-cell development and stimulate activation in normal or malignant B-cells. Molecular assessments revealed the relationship between the up/downregulation of different genes and the development of therapeutic resistance. Studies suggest that the dysregulation of these molecules could be the missing link in developing resistance to chemotherapy drugs. Serum levels of miRNAs can be employed as a predictive biomarker for diagnosis, prognosis, and response to treatment in B-cell malignancies. This study reviews the role of different microRNAs and long noncoding RNAs in regulating the expression of genes involved in drug resistance in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia and lymphomas.