Mostafa Akbarzadeh-Khiavi
1,2 
, Azam Safary
3 , Yadollah Omidi
4* 1 Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
2 Research Center for Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Biomedicine Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
3 Connective Tissue Diseases Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
4 Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Barry and Judy Silverman College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA
Abstract
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a cell surface protein that plays a vital role in regulating cell growth and division. However, certain tumors, such as colorectal cancer (CRC), can exhibit an overexpression of EGFR, resulting in uncontrolled cell growth and tumor progression. To address this issue, therapies targeting and inhibiting EGFR activity have been developed to suppress cancer growth. Nevertheless, resistance to these therapies poses a significant obstacle in cancer treatment. Recent research has focused on comprehending the underlying mechanisms contributing to anti-EGFR resistance and identifying new targets to overcome this striking challenge. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a class of RNA molecules that do not encode proteins but play pivotal roles in gene regulation and cellular processes. Emerging evidence suggests that lncRNAs may participate in modulating resistance to anti-EGFR therapies in CRC. Consequently, combining lncRNA targeting with the existing treatment modalities could potentially yield improved clinical outcomes. Illuminating the involvement of lncRNAs in anti-EGFR resistance mechanisms of cancer cells can provide valuable insights into the development of novel anti-EGFR therapies in several solid tumors.