Prostate cancer-associated transcript 6 (PCAT6)

Prostate cancer-associated transcript 6 (PCAT6) is a long non-coding RNA, 764 base-pairs in length, located on chromosome 1q32.1 adjacent to the protein-coding gene KDM5B. PCAT6 is part of a family of lncRNAs first identified in prostate cancer but is now recognized to be upregulated and oncogenic in a wide range of tumor types. PCAT6 exerts its effects primarily as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA), acting as a molecular sponge for specific microRNAs such as miR-143-3p, miR-330-5p, miR-185-5p, miR-30, miR-15a, and miR-326, thereby modulating numerous pathways associated with cell proliferation, migration, invasion, apoptosis suppression, EMT, angiogenesis, and metastasis. In addition to influencing gene expression through miRNA interactions, PCAT6 has been implicated in chemoresistance, radioresistance, and immune modulation in cancer settings. Its broad overexpression in tumors and correlation with poor prognosis make PCAT6 a promising diagnostic and prognostic biomarker, and a compelling, though challenging, therapeutic target for molecular intervention in oncology.

Other names

PCAN-R1ncRNA-a2KDM5B-AS1KDM5B antisense RNA 1KDM5B antisense RNA 1 (head to head)KDM5B antisense RNA 1 (non-protein coding)onco-lncRNA-96prostate cancer-associated noncoding RNA 1noncoding RNA-activating 2alpha-1,3-mannosyl-glycoprotein 4-beta-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase-like protein pseudogeneMGAT4EP

Drugs that reduce PCAT6 levels (e.g., siRNA, antisense oligonucleotides) could suppress tumor proliferation and invasion by inhibiting its ceRNA activity and downstream targets. Enzalutamide was shown to induce PCAT6 expression, which promotes neuroendocrine differentiation in prostate cancer.