HOXA cluster antisense RNA 3 (HOXA-AS3)

HOXA cluster antisense RNA 3 (HOXA-AS3) is a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) located at human chromosome 7p15.2 and is antisense to the HOXA gene cluster[2][3]. It is 25,952 nucleotides in length and is non-protein-coding. HOXA-AS3 is abnormally overexpressed in a range of cancers and non-malignant diseases, where it plays pivotal roles in promoting cell proliferation, migration, invasion, lineage specification, and resistance to apoptosis[2][3]. Its function is mainly mediated through acting as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA), sequestering specific microRNAs, and regulating gene networks involved in tumor progression, differentiation, and inflammatory responses[2][3]. HOXA-AS3 upregulation is associated with unfavorable clinical features such as poor prognosis, larger tumor size, higher grade, deeper invasion, and greater likelihood of metastasis[2][3]. As a result, it has been proposed as a potential therapeutic target, with inhibition studies showing suppressed tumor growth and improved disease parameters in preclinical models. However, its direct drug targeting is still experimental, with mechanisms such as CRISPR-dCas9 knockdown or antisense oligonucleotides under investigation[2].

Other names

HOXA-AS3HOXA6asHOXA cluster antisense RNA 3 (non-protein coding)HOXA6as lncRNA

Competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) that sponges microRNAs (miRNAs) to regulate target genes (e.g., miR-29c, miR-455-5p, miR-218-5p, miR-4319, miR-29a-3p); Modulation of gene expression stability (e.g., increasing HOXA6 mRNA stability); Regulation of signaling pathways implicated in cancer progression and inflammation (e.g., NF-κB pathway, AKT pathway, EMT); Epigenetic regulation (e.g., effects mediated by histone modifications)