Non-coding RNAs in gastric cancer

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are functional RNA molecules that play crucial regulatory roles in many fundamental biological processes. The dysregulation of ncRNAs is significantly associated with the progression of human cancers, including gastric cancer. In this review, we have summarized the oncogenic or tumor-suppressive roles and the regulatory mechanisms of lncRNAs, miRNAs, circRNAs and piRNAs, and have discussed their potential as biomarkers or therapeutic targets in gastric cancer. •NcRNAs are aberrantly expressed in gastric cancers, and these dysregulated ncRNAs act as oncogenes or tumor-suppressors in gastric cancer progression.•NcRNAs exert oncogenic or tumor-suppressive roles based on a diversity of cellular action mechanisms.•NcRNAs may be potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for gastric cancer diagnosis, prognosis and treatment.