NRF2 regulation by noncoding RNAs in cancers: The present knowledge and the way forward

Abstract

Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) is the key transcription factor triggered by oxidative stress that moves in cells of the antioxidant response element (ARE)-antioxidant gene network against reactive oxygen species (ROS) cellular damage. In tumors, the NRF2 pathway represents one of the most intriguing pathways that promotes chemo-and radioresistance of neoplastic cells and its activity is regulated by genetic and epigenetic mechanisms; some of these being poorly investigated in cancer. The noncoding RNA (ncRNA) network is governed by microRNAs (miRNAs) and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and modulates a variety of cellular mechanisms linked to cancer onset and progression, both at transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. In recent years, the scientific findings about the effects of ncRNA landscape variations on NRF2 machines are rapidly increasing and need to be continuously updated. Here, we review the latest knowledge about the link between NRF2 and ncRNA networks in cancer, thus focusing on their potential translational significance as key tumor biomarkers.