Cancer susceptibility candidate 8 (non-protein coding) (CASC8)

Cancer susceptibility candidate 8 (CASC8) is a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) located at chromosome 8q24.21, a genomic region densely populated with cancer-associated loci, including the MYC oncogene[1][2]. CASC8 is not a protein-coding gene but functions as a regulatory RNA molecule primarily localized in the nucleus. Multiple studies report that CASC8 is highly expressed in several malignancies, including pancreatic adenocarcinoma and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, where its overexpression consistently correlates with increased cancer cell proliferation, reduced apoptosis, promotion of cell cycle progression, and poor patient prognosis[1][2]. Its mechanism involves interactions with RNA-binding proteins (such as hnRNPL), modulation of microRNAs (like miR-671), and likely regulation of chromatin structure and the MYC enhancer region[1][2]. Genetic polymorphisms within CASC8 are associated with cancer risk and clinical outcomes, making it a promising prognostic biomarker for cancer progression and a potential future therapeutic target, although no approved drugs target CASC8 directly[1][2].

Other names

LINC00860CARLo-1CARLO1long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 860cancer susceptibility candidate 8

Not directly drug-targeted; affects downstream signaling pathways (e.g., via regulating RNA-binding proteins like hnRNPL and miRNA networks, such as miR-671)[1][2].