Prostate cancer associated 3 (PCA3)

Prostate cancer associated 3 (PCA3) is a gene that encodes a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) which is highly overexpressed in prostate cancer cells and almost exclusively expressed in human prostate tissue. It is localized at chromosome 9q21.2, within the intronic region of the PRUNE2 gene but on the antisense strand. PCA3 regulates PRUNE2 expression and is believed to influence cell proliferation in prostate cancer by forming double-stranded RNA that is edited by adenosine deaminase acting on RNA (ADAR) enzymes, thereby downregulating PRUNE2 and decreasing cell proliferation—this effect is androgen receptor-dependent. PCA3 expression is used clinically as a highly specific biomarker for prostate cancer detection, particularly in cases where the utility of standard PSA testing is limited; it is measured in urine after prostate massage. Its role as a disease-causing gene is limited; it does not encode a protein or function as a traditional drug target such as a receptor, enzyme, or transporter, but its transcript is interrogated as a molecular diagnostic or prognostic biomarker in prostate cancer management. No drugs are known to directly target PCA3, and its primary relevance is as a precision diagnostic tool rather than a therapeutic target.

Other names

DD3NCRNA00019PCAT3PRUNE2-AS1non-protein coding RNA 19prostate cancer antigen 3 (non-protein coding)prostate cancer associated transcript 3 (non-protein coding)PRUNE2 antisense RNA 1Differential Display code 3prostate-specific gene DD3