Differentiation antagonizing non-protein coding RNA (DANCR) (DANCR)

Differentiation antagonizing non-protein coding RNA (DANCR), also known as ANCR, is a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) that plays a critical role in maintaining the undifferentiated state of progenitor cells by suppressing premature differentiation (Kretz et al., 2012, Nature, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22343891/). In various malignancies, DANCR is significantly upregulated and acts as a potent oncogene, promoting cell proliferation, migration, and invasion while inhibiting apoptosis (Thin et al., 2018, Frontiers in Oncology, https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2018.00312/full). It functions primarily as a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA), sponging microRNAs such as miR-33a-5p and miR-214 to modulate the expression of downstream oncogenic targets (Liu et al., 2018, Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research, https://jeccr.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13046-018-0982-0). Additionally, DANCR interacts with the Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) through its association with EZH2, leading to the epigenetic silencing of tumor suppressor genes (Jia et al., 2016, Scientific Reports, https://www.nature.com/articles/srep36673). Due to its overexpression in cancer and its correlation with poor patient prognosis, DANCR is being investigated as both a diagnostic biomarker and a therapeutic target. Experimental strategies to inhibit DANCR include the use of antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) and siRNA-mediated knockdown, which have shown efficacy in reducing tumor growth in preclinical models (Lu et al., 2018, Molecular Cancer, https://molecular-cancer.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12943-018-0842-y).

Other names

Anti-differentiation non-coding RNAANCRNCRNA00226Long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 226LINC00226

Competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) / microRNA sponging and recruitment of chromatin-modifying complexes like PRC2 to epigenetically regulate gene expression (Thin et al., 2018, Frontiers in Oncology, https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2018.00312/full).