Long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 540 (LINC00540)

Long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 540 (LINC00540) is a cytoplasmically localized long non-coding RNA transcript involved in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression and drug resistance. LINC00540 is markedly upregulated in sorafenib-resistant HCC cells and acts as a ceRNA by competitively binding to miR-4677-3p, upregulating AKR1C2, and activating the PI3K/AKT pathway, thereby promoting EMT, migration, invasion, and resistance to sorafenib. LINC00540 knockdown reverses these effects, suggesting its role as a promising therapeutic target and biomarker in advanced HCC. However, therapeutic targeting of lncRNAs such as LINC00540 is still an experimental approach with unresolved safety and specificity issues. No data indicate that LINC00540 interacts with any drugs other than sorafenib, nor are there validated small molecule inhibitors for LINC00540 to date. Further research is required to fully evaluate its clinical significance.

Other names

LINC00540

Modulates drug resistance through miRNA sponging (miR-4677-3p), leading to upregulation of AKR1C2 and activation of PI3K/AKT signaling, thus promoting EMT and metastasis in HCC