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Updated: Oct 31, 2025

Quick Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization Protocol for Xist RNA Combined with Immunofluorescence of Histone Modification in X-chromosome Inactivation
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X-Inactive-Specific Transcript: Review of Its Functions in the Carcinogenesis

Soudeh Ghafouri-Fard1, Sepideh Dashti1, Molood Farsi2

  • 1Department of Medical Genetics, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
|June 28, 2021
PubMed

Insights

X-inactive-specific transcript (XIST) is a long non-coding RNA involved in X inactivation and cancer. While often oncogenic, XIST may act as a tumor suppressor in certain cancers like prostate cancer.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Oncology

Background:

  • X-inactive-specific transcript (XIST) is a key long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) regulating X chromosome inactivation.
  • XIST plays a complex role in carcinogenesis, interacting with chromatin modifiers and acting as a miRNA sponge.
  • Its function in cancer is debated, with studies reporting both oncogenic and tumor-suppressive roles.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the multifaceted roles of XIST in various types of cancer.
  • To consolidate findings on XIST's oncogenic and tumor-suppressive functions.
  • To highlight the inconsistent roles of XIST across different cancer types.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies investigating XIST in carcinogenesis.
  • Analysis of XIST's molecular mechanisms, including interactions with chromatin and miRNAs.
  • Comparative analysis of XIST's role in different cancer types.

Main Results:

  • XIST is frequently implicated in oncogenesis across multiple cancer types.
  • Contradictory findings exist, with XIST showing tumor suppressor activity in prostate and oral squamous cell carcinoma.
  • Inconsistent results are reported for XIST in liver, breast, ovarian, osteosarcoma, and renal cell carcinomas.

Conclusions:

  • XIST exhibits context-dependent roles in cancer, acting as both an oncogene and a tumor suppressor.
  • The specific function of XIST in carcinogenesis varies significantly depending on the cancer type.
  • Further research is needed to fully elucidate the complex role of XIST in cancer development and progression.
Keywords:
X-inactive-specific transcriptbiomarkercancerexpressionlncRNA

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