Lrrc42, or Leucine-rich repeat containing 42, is a gene with significant implications in cancer development. It has been associated with multiple signaling pathways, such as the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway [3]. Its expression levels are related to cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis, thus playing an important role in tumorigenesis [1,2,3].

Analysis of RNA-seq data from the TCGA database showed that Lrrc42 expression is upregulated in various tumor tissues like bladder, breast, and colorectal cancer, while downregulated in kidney chromophobe and thyroid carcinoma tissues [1]. In lung cancer, knockdown of Lrrc42 by siRNA suppressed cell growth, and its overexpression promoted growth. It may interact with and stabilize GATAD2B and MBD3 proteins, contributing to cell proliferation through p21Waf1/Cip1 regulation [2]. In colorectal cancer, silencing Lrrc42 suppressed cell proliferation, induced cell cycle arrest, and promoted apoptosis, and it was found to be regulated by ubiquitin specific peptidase 7 which stabilizes Lrrc42 by deubiquitination [3].

In conclusion, Lrrc42 is a key gene in cancer-related cellular processes. Functional studies through knockdown experiments in cell lines have revealed its role in promoting tumor cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in cancers like hepatocellular carcinoma, lung cancer, and colorectal cancer [1,2,3]. Understanding Lrrc42 may provide new therapeutic targets for inhibiting cancer progression.

References:

1. Huang, Rongfu, Yao, Jianfeng, Liu, Lei, Li, Hua, Huang, Baoshan. 2025. Comprehensive analysis of LRRC42 as a potential biomarker and key cellular processes in cancer development. In Scientific reports, 15, 5169. doi:10.1038/s41598-025-88467-6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39939664/

2. Fujitomo, Takashi, Daigo, Yataro, Matsuda, Koichi, Ueda, Koji, Nakamura, Yusuke. 2014. Identification of a nuclear protein, LRRC42, involved in lung carcinogenesis. In International journal of oncology, 45, 147-56. doi:10.3892/ijo.2014.2418. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24806090/

3. Li, Yunze, Sun, Xin, Huang, Zhe. 2024. USP7 facilitates deubiquitination of LRRC42 in colorectal cancer to accelerate tumorigenesis and augment Wnt/β-catenin signaling. In Biochimica et biophysica acta. Molecular cell research, 1872, 119859. doi:10.1016/j.bbamcr.2024.119859. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39393471/