The multiple roles of the disordered protein CCDC6 in cancer development

As a tumor suppressor gene, CCDC6 encodes a coiled-coil domain-containing protein that is ubiquitously expressed and involved in crucial cellular processes such as DNA damage response and apoptosis, although its precise mechanisms remain elusive. Initially identified as part of a fusion gene, CCDC6 can form fusion genes with a variety of proto-oncogenes, including both kinase- and non-kinase-coding genes, thereby facilitating oncogenesis. Alterations in CCDC6 expression across various cancers underscore its intricate role and potential influence on the efficacy of anticancer therapies. Recent findings have demonstrated that CCDC6 can undergo liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) and facilitate the LLPS of its associated fusion proteins, providing new perspectives on its functional characterization and potential therapeutic implications in related diseases. We present a comprehensive overview of CCDC6, encompassing its protein characteristics and physiological and genomic aspects. Furthermore, we explored the association between CCDC6 alterations and carcinogenesis, as well as their implications for therapeutic interventions. The objective of this review is to furnish the medicinal community with current information and valuable insights pertaining to diseases associated with CCDC6.