# Mechanisms of lincDUSP Oncogenic Effects in Colon Cancer

> **NIH NIH R01** · CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $368,288

## Abstract

PI: Khalil, Ahmad
Technical Abstract:
Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, largely
due to frequent treatment failure and recurrence. Recent studies, including work from our
laboratory, have demonstrated that regulatory long intergenic non-coding RNAs (lincRNAs) are
major players in the process of colon tumorigenesis, and could emerge as novel therapeutic
targets. In this proposal, we have identified and functionally characterized a novel lincRNA,
referred to as lincDUSP, that exerts an oncogenic effect in colon cancer cells. Knockdown of
lincDUSP significantly abrogates the tumor phenotype, including decreased proliferation and
colony formation, and increased apoptosis. These studies have also revealed that lincDUSP
regulates numerous genes by directly interacting with chromatin, and potentially recruiting
protein complexes to specific genomic loci. In aim 1 of this proposal, we will further test the
oncogenic function of lincDUSP in vivo using a xenograft model, and also assess the role of
lincDUSP in driving colon tumorigenesis using 3D organoids. In aim 2, we will investigate the
molecular mechanisms of lincDUSP by assessing its role in gene regulation, and characterize
the protein complexes that are required for lincDUSP oncogenic activity. Lastly, we will
determine the secondary structure of lincDUSP that facilitates its interaction with DNA and
proteins. The completion of the proposed studies could lead to establishing lincDUSP as a novel
oncogenic lincRNA with direct impact on colon tumorigenesis, and possibly as a target for
therapy.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10003171
- **Project number:** 5R01CA217992-03
- **Recipient organization:** CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Thomas Louis LaFramboise
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $368,288
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-01 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10003171

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10003171, Mechanisms of lincDUSP Oncogenic Effects in Colon Cancer (5R01CA217992-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10003171. Licensed CC0.

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