Long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 2202 (LINC02202)

Long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 2202 (LINC02202) is a long intergenic non-coding RNA (lincRNA) that does not encode a protein but is transcribed as an RNA molecule over 200 nucleotides in length. It is not considered a "target" in the traditional pharmacological sense, such as a receptor or enzyme, but rather a regulatory RNA molecule involved in transcriptional and post-transcriptional gene regulation. LINC02202 is highly expressed in certain cancers, including malignant melanoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, and breast cancer, where it is implicated in disease progression and prognosis. Mechanistically, LINC02202 can regulate the expression of specific microRNAs, such as miR-526b-3p, and downstream targets including XBP1 and PD-L1, influencing tumor cell proliferation, metastatic potential, and immune evasion. It has been found upregulated in melanoma, promoting tumor progression and immune evasion through interaction with the miR‐526b‐3p/XBP1/PD-L1 signaling axis. Inhibition of LINC02202 can improve the efficacy of anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in melanoma models, suggesting an indirect potential as a therapeutic target, but no drugs directly target LINC02202 itself at present. Its expression levels may serve as a biomarker for cancer diagnosis and prognosis, particularly in breast cancer and melanoma. There are no known small-molecule or biologic drugs currently in clinical use that directly interact with LINC02202; its disease association is mediated by its role as an oncogenic RNA. As a lincRNA, it is classified among long non-coding RNAs, which broadly modulate gene expression, cellular differentiation, and chromatin state.

Other names

LINC02202