Zinc finger protein 304 (ZNF304) (ZNF304)

Zinc finger protein 304 (ZNF304) is a member of the Krüppel-associated box (KRAB) zinc finger protein family that functions as a transcriptional repressor [1, 4]. It is frequently overexpressed in several malignancies, most notably ovarian and colorectal cancers, where it contributes to tumor progression and chemoresistance [2]. ZNF304 exerts its oncogenic effects by binding to the promoter regions of key tumor suppressor genes, such as PTEN, p15INK4B, and p14ARF, and recruiting the co-repressor protein KAP1 to mediate epigenetic silencing [2, 3]. This silencing leads to the activation of survival pathways, such as the PI3K/Akt pathway, and promotes resistance to anoikis, which is cell death induced by loss of adhesion [3]. Because ZNF304 is a transcription factor—a class of proteins traditionally considered "undruggable" by small molecules—therapeutic strategies have focused on targeting its mRNA [2]. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that silencing ZNF304 mRNA using small interfering RNA (siRNA) delivered via neutral liposomes can effectively restore tumor suppressor expression and inhibit tumor growth in vivo [2, 3]. This approach has shown particular efficacy in sensitizing ovarian cancer cells to taxane-based chemotherapy [2]. Consequently, ZNF304 mRNA represents a promising target for RNA-based therapeutics in the treatment of aggressive, chemoresistant cancers [3].

Other names

Zinc finger protein 304ZNF304

RNA interference (RNAi) mediated degradation of ZNF304 mRNA, leading to reduced protein synthesis and restoration of tumor suppressor gene expression.