# CD74

Source: https://onco.cc/targets/cd74/  
OnCo record `cd74` (Target). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

CD74 (HLA class II histocompatibility antigen gamma chain) is a gene. The public catalogues list it as a drug target and a fusion partner, and an approved or late-stage drug is recorded against it. Tied to Lung cancer and Non-small-cell lung cancer.

## Summary

Plays a critical role in MHC class II antigen processing by stabilising peptide-free class II alpha/beta heterodimers in a complex soon after their synthesis and directing transport of the complex from the endoplasmic reticulum to the endosomal/lysosomal system where the antigen processing and binding of antigenic peptides to MHC class II takes place. Serves as cell surface receptor for the cytokine MIF. Binds to the peptide-binding site of MHC class II alpha/beta heterodimers forming an alpha-beta-CLIP complex, thereby preventing the loading of antigenic peptides to the MHC class II complex until its release by HLA-DM in the endosome.

Open Targets scores its association with cancer at 0.73 (direct and indirect evidence; datatypes literature 0.98, genetic association 0.00, somatic mutation 0.96, clinical 0.89).

## Fields

- Kind: Target
- Last checked: 2026-09-23
- Also known as: CD74 molecule; HLA class II histocompatibility antigen gamma chain; DHLAG
- Tags: cancer-genes-wave
- Symbol: CD74
- Class: other
- Biology: Plays a critical role in MHC class II antigen processing by stabilising peptide-free class II alpha/beta heterodimers in a complex soon after their synthesis and directing transport of the complex from the endoplasmic reticulum to the endosomal/lysosomal system where the antigen processing and binding of antigenic peptides to MHC class II takes place. Serves as cell surface receptor for the cytokine MIF. Binds to the peptide-binding site of MHC class II alpha/beta heterodimers forming an alpha-beta-CLIP complex, thereby preventing the loading of antigenic peptides to the MHC class II complex until its release by HLA-DM in the endosome. Stabilises the conformation of mature CTSL by binding to its active site and serving as a chaperone to help maintain a pool of mature enzyme in endocytic compartments and extracellular space of antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Has antiviral activity by stymieing the endosomal entry of Ebola virus and coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2. Disrupts cathepsin-mediated Ebola virus glycoprotein processing, which prevents viral fusion and entry. Location: Cell membrane; Endoplasmic reticulum membrane; Golgi apparatus, trans-Golgi network; Endosome (UniProt). Locus 5q33.1 (HGNC).
- Where found: Lung cancer: Open Targets association 0.70 with lung cancer (MONDO_0008903); Non-small-cell lung cancer: Open Targets association 0.68 with non-small cell lung carcinoma (MONDO_0005233)

## Notes

- Written by scripts/fetch-cancer-genes.ts from CIViC, Open Targets, IntOGen, HGNC and UniProt; the function text is UniProt's, condensed and in UK spelling. Roles: Open Targets known-drug datatype score 0.89; UniProt disease notes describe a translocation or gene fusion involving the gene. Evidence tier "approved-drug" is the strongest of those signals.
- Prevalence not recorded: none of the sources gives a positivity rate.

## Sources

- HGNC HGNC:1697: https://www.genenames.org/data/gene-symbol-report/#!/hgnc_id/HGNC:1697
- UniProt P04233: https://www.uniprot.org/uniprotkb/P04233/entry
- NCBI Gene 972: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/972
- Ensembl ENSG00000019582: https://www.ensembl.org/Homo_sapiens/Gene/Summary?g=ENSG00000019582

## Connected records

- collections: [Open Targets Platform](https://onco.cc/collections/open-targets/)
- cancers: [Lung cancer (all types)](https://onco.cc/cancers/lung-cancer/), [Non-small-cell lung cancer](https://onco.cc/cancers/nsclc/)

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JSON: https://onco.cc/api/v1/entities/cd74.json