LncRNAs can have pro-survival or pro-apoptotic functions in response to DNA damage that can be utilized for future translational research. Given that expressions and functions of lncRNAs are highly cell type specific, cancer treatments may benefit from targeting lncRNAs crucial to cancer cell function, whereas having little effect on nearby normal cells that do not require these lncRNAs. The connection between DSB repair and ionizing radiation has been solidly established and work to date proposes that targeting the DSB repair pathways still has extensive potential for expanding radio- and chemosensitization in the clinic . Although there have been no efforts so far to develop drugs targeting lncRNAs in a clinical setting, it is encouraging to see that more and more lncRNAs have been identified with well-defined functions, these findings demonstrate that the therapeutic potential of lncRNAs warrants further investigation.