Kelch domain-containing protein 8A (KLHDC8A)

Kelch domain-containing protein 8A (KLHDC8A) is a cytoplasmic scaffold/adaptor protein in the Kelch superfamily. It is highly expressed in glioblastoma and glioma, specifically within cancer stem-like cells, and functions as an epigenetically driven oncogene. KLHDC8A promotes the assembly of primary cilia, which act as cellular antennae, facilitating hedgehog pathway activation—a key driver of cancer stem cell maintenance and tumor growth. It also regulates genes involved in the cell cycle, apoptosis, and migration. Knockdown of KLHDC8A leads to impaired cancer cell proliferation and increased cell death, and its expression is correlated with poor prognosis in glioma patients. While no approved drugs target KLHDC8A directly, experimental evidence indicates that disrupting proteins or pathways it affects (e.g., Aurora B/C kinase or the hedgehog pathway) can inhibit tumor growth. KLHDC8A is under investigation as a molecular target and biomarker in the context of glioblastoma and possibly other cancers.

Other names

S-delta-E1FLJ10748Substitute for delta-EGFR expression 1substitute for delta-EGFR expression 1

Not directly applicable; drugs acting upstream/downstream target associated pathways such as Aurora kinase inhibition (induces ciliation and hedgehog signaling), SMO inhibition (blocks hedgehog pathway in glioblastoma stem cells).