Cancer metastasis-associated long intergenic non-coding RNA (CALIC) (LINC00920)

Cancer metastasis-associated long intergenic non-coding RNA (CALIC, LINC00920) is a 913 bp, two-exon, non-protein coding RNA located on human chromosome 16 between CDH5 and BEAN1. CALIC is upregulated in metastatic colon cancer subpopulations and associates with the RNA-binding protein hnRNP-L, conferring specificity to its gene regulation. This complex upregulates the receptor tyrosine kinase AXL, driving migration and metastasis of colon cancer cells. Knockdown of CALIC reduces cell motility and metastatic spread in vitro and in vivo. CALIC's cellular localization is both nuclear and cytoplasmic, suggesting multiple mechanistic roles. Its oncogenic functions make CALIC a potential target for therapies aimed at inhibiting tumor metastasis, though tissue specificity and off-target effects remain key safety concerns. No small-molecule or approved RNA therapeutics currently target CALIC directly[1].

Other names

CALICLINRISLong intergenic non-protein coding RNA 920Cancer metastasis-associated long intergenic non-coding RNALong Intergenic Noncoding RNA for IGF2BP2 Stability

No drug-specific MoA yet; targeting CALIC would likely aim to inhibit its RNA/protein interactions (with hnRNP-L) or downstream effects such as AXL upregulation, suppressing metastasis[1].