RNA-binding Proteins as a New Link Between COPD and Lung Cancer

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a well-known and established risk factor for lung cancer development. COPD and lung cancer share common several pathogenic determinants such as risk factors (mainly represented by cigarette smoke exposure) and pathogenic mechanisms/features, mainly represented by increased oxidative stress and chronic inflammation in the lower airways. This chapter will review current evidences indicating the role of RBPs in the common pathogenic mechanisms shared by lung cancer and COPD. The RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) can finely modulate the post-transcriptional regulation of several genes involved in important biological processes including inflammation. The interaction between RBPs and targeted transcripts modulates the mRNA turnover, their subcellular localization, splicing, and translation. More- over, the expression of several inflammatory mediators, that together can mediate both chronic lung inflammation and carcinogenesis process, is regulated by RBPs. Modulation of RBPs may be useful in the treatment of these diseases. RBPs may have a central role in the development of lung cancer in patients with COPD, since they take part in several common pathogenic mechanisms shared by both diseases. Further data need to fully clarify the application of RBPs as new potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets.