Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are known to have tissue-specific and/or cancer-specific expression. Experimental evidence has determined that lncRNAs can function as oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, suggesting that these non-coding RNAs are involved in cancer development. Currently, the functions of numerous lncRNAs have been characterized, but their biological role in carcinogenesis has not been fully determined. Therefore, molecular biology approaches have been developed to allow upregulation and downregulation of lncRNAs, as well as genomic editing on lncRNA sequence to affect its functionality. In fact, once the biological function of lncRNA loci has been established, it is necessary to settle whether the molecular function is encoded by its DNA sequence, the RNA molecule, or by the act of transcription itself. Finally, it is also important to determine whether lncRNAs are cis-acting or trans-acting elements, which has also been a challenge in the last years. Thus, this collection highlights the latest molecular biology techniques, including activation, silencing and genomic editing in order to determine the functional role of lncRNAs in cancer.

-Lost-of-function methods to lncRNAs by biochemically modified oligonucleotides.

-Overexpression of lncRNAs that include the use transgenic DNA constructs.

-Genomic editing strategies to analyze the biological function of lncRNAs in cancer.

-In vitro and in vivo models to evaluate the function of lncRNAs in cancer.