# LncRNA mechanisms in cancer

> **NIH NIH R35** · STANFORD UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $958,723

## Abstract

Project Summary
The Chang lab has pioneered discoveries of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) as a pervasive
and important class of regulators in human diseases, notably in cancer. LncRNAs can serve as
the interface between DNA and chromatin modification machinery, and thus mediate epigenetic
aberrations in cancer. The lncRNA HOTAIR is overexpressed in approximately a third of human
breast carcinomas and is a powerful predictor of eventual metastasis and death. The long term
goal of this program is to understand the mechanistic basis of lncRNA action in human cancers.
Our investigations will address (i) the roles of lncRNAs in driving cell-to-to cell epigenetic
heterogeneity, a critical issue in cancer metastasis and therapy resistance, using cutting edge
single cell epigenomic technology and in vivo genetic models; (ii) the emerging roles of RNA
chemical modifications in cancer development; (iii) noncoding mutations that change RNA
structure (“ribosnitches”) and use new epigenome editing technologies to pinpoint driver lncRNA
genes in human cancers. These experiments will provide key insights into how long noncoding
RNAs may instigate cancer progression, and should pave the way for new cancer diagnostics
and treatments in the future.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9969571
- **Project number:** 5R35CA209919-05
- **Recipient organization:** STANFORD UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Howard Y Chang
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $958,723
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-08-03 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9969571

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9969571, LncRNA mechanisms in cancer (5R35CA209919-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9969571. Licensed CC0.

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