X-inactive specific transcript
XIST (X-inactive specific transcript) is a long non-coding RNA that plays a crucial role in X-chromosome inactivation in females. However, XIST has also been implicated in various types of cancer, where it can be expressed in both males and females.
Direction of Regulation in Cancer
-XIST is most often functionally DOWNREGULATED or LOST in cancer, particularly in aggressive tumors from female patients.
-This loss is usually epigenetic or structural, not due to point mutation.
XIST acts as a guardian of chromosomal dosage stability, not a classical tumor suppressor gene.
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