Multifaced roles of the long non-coding RNA DRAIC in cancer progression

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) are functional RNAs, with over 200 nucleotides in length and lacking protein-coding potential. Studies have indicated that lncRNAs are important gene regulators under physiological conditions. Aberrant lncRNA expression is associated with the initiation and progression of various diseases, including cancers. High-throughput transcriptome analyses have revealed thousands of lncRNAs as putative tumor suppressors or promoters in various cancers, but the detailed molecular mechanisms of each lncRNA remain unclear. Downregulated RNA In Cancer, inhibitor of cell invasion and migration (DRAIC) (also known as LOC145837 and RP11-279F6.1) is a lncRNA that inhibits or promotes cancer progression with several modes of action. DRAIC was originally identified as a tumor-suppressive lncRNA in prostate adenocarcinoma. Subsequent studies also revealed that it has an anti-tumor role in glioblastoma, triple-negative breast cancer, and stomach adenocarcinoma. However, DRAIC exhibits oncogenic functions in other malignancies, such as lung adenocarcinoma and esophageal carcinoma, indicating its highly context-dependent effects on cancer progression and clinical outcomes. DRAIC and its associated pathways regulate various biological processes, including proliferation, invasion, metastasis, autophagy, and neuroendocrine function. This review introduces the multifaceted roles of DRAIC, particularly in cancer progression, and discusses its biological significance and clinical implications.