Cancer susceptibility candidate 9 (non-protein coding) (CASC9)

Cancer susceptibility candidate 9 (CASC9) is a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) gene, classified as a long intergenic non-coding RNA (lincRNA) located on chromosome 8, with a transcript size of approximately 1347 nucleotides and no significant protein-coding potential[1][3]. CASC9 is upregulated in various cancers, including esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, gastric cancer, and oral squamous cell carcinoma, contributing to tumor proliferation, migration, invasion, and metastasis by modulating gene expression and chromatin state, often through interactions with chromatin-modifying enzymes such as EZH2[1][9]. Its mechanism includes epigenetic silencing of tumor suppressor genes and acting as a competing endogenous RNA that sponges microRNAs, thus altering oncogenic and tumor suppressor pathways[3]. CASC9 is being explored as a diagnostic or prognostic biomarker in multiple cancers[3][9]. No drugs currently target CASC9 directly, and its functional impact as a non-coding RNA means it is not a typical therapeutic target such as a receptor, enzyme, or transporter.

Other names

LINC00981ESCCAL-1linc-JPH1long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 981esophageal squamous cell carcinoma associated lncRNA-1ESSCAL1ESCC-associated lncRNAcancer susceptibility 9 (non-protein coding)cancer susceptibility candidate 9 (non-protein coding)NONHSAT127311NR_103850

Regulation of gene expression via chromatin modification (e.g., via EZH2); Competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) activity by sponging microRNAs; Epigenetic silencing of tumor suppressor genes (e.g., PDCD4) through interacting with chromatin modifiers