The invention pertains to increased LINC00473 as an indicator of a cancer involving loss or reduction in LKB1 function. LINC00473 is also provided as a therapeutic target for treating a cancer involving loss or reduction in LKB1 function. The invention provides a method of identifying a subject as having a cancer involving loss or reduction in LKB1 function based on the level of LINC00473 in the test sample obtained from the subject and administering an effective amount of a LINC00473 inhibitor to the subject to treat the cancer. The LINC00473 inhibitor can be a small-inhibitory RNA, short hairpin RNA, bifunctional RNA, antisense oligonucleotide, ribozyme, deoxyribozyme, aptamer or small molecule inhibitor. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a LINC00473 inhibitor is also provided for the treatment of a cancer involving loss or reduction in LKB1 function.
