HOTAIR: a key regulator in gynecologic cancers

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play critical roles in the initiation and progression of human cancers. HOX transcript antisense RNA (<i>HOTAIR</i>) is an lncRNA localized to the mammalian <i>HOXC</i> gene cluster; it can interact with polycomb repressive complex 2 and the lysine-specific histone demethylase/CoREST/REST complex, and it manipulates the expression of various genes. <i>HOTAIR</i> promotes tumor invasion and metastasis by silencing tumor suppressors, and activating oncogenes and signaling pathways. <i>HOTAIR</i> is deregulated in many human cancers; despite its critical roles in health and disease, the underlying mechanisms governing <i>HOTAIR</i> function are unknown. In this review, we summarize the recent findings on the roles of <i>HOTAIR</i> in gynecologic cancers.