# KDM5A

Source: https://onco.cc/targets/kdm5a/  
OnCo record `kdm5a` (Target). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

KDM5A (Lysine-specific demethylase 5A) is a gene that drives cell growth when it is altered. The public catalogues list it as an oncogene driver and a fusion partner, and it is called a cancer driver by mutation analysis of patient cohorts. Tied to Skin cancer, Leukaemia, Lung cancer and 3 more.

## Summary

Histone demethylase that specifically demethylates 'Lys-4' of histone H3, thereby playing a central role in histone code. Does not demethylate histone H3 'Lys-9', H3 'Lys-27', H3 'Lys-36', H3 'Lys-79' or H4 'Lys-20'. Demethylates trimethylated and dimethylated but not monomethylated H3 'Lys-4'.

Open Targets scores its association with cancer at 0.63 (direct and indirect evidence; datatypes literature 0.97, genetic association 0.00, somatic mutation 0.98). IntOGen calls it a driver in 1 cohort (1 activating, 0 loss-of-function), covering Gallbladder Cancer.

## Fields

- Kind: Target
- Last checked: 2026-09-23
- Also known as: lysine demethylase 5A; Lysine-specific demethylase 5A; RBBP2; JARID1A
- Tags: cancer-genes-wave
- Symbol: KDM5A
- Class: oncogene
- Biology: Histone demethylase that specifically demethylates 'Lys-4' of histone H3, thereby playing a central role in histone code. Does not demethylate histone H3 'Lys-9', H3 'Lys-27', H3 'Lys-36', H3 'Lys-79' or H4 'Lys-20'. Demethylates trimethylated and dimethylated but not monomethylated H3 'Lys-4'. Regulates specific gene transcription through DNA-binding on 5'-CCGCCC-3' motif. May stimulate transcription mediated by nuclear receptors. Involved in transcriptional regulation of Hox proteins during cell differentiation. Location: Nucleus, nucleolus; Nucleus (UniProt). Locus 12p13.33 (HGNC).
- Where found: Skin cancer: Open Targets association 0.55 with skin cancer (MONDO_0002898); Leukaemia: Open Targets association 0.54 with leukaemia (MONDO_0005059); Lung cancer: Open Targets association 0.54 with lung cancer (MONDO_0008903); Colorectal cancer: Open Targets association 0.51 with colorectal cancer (MONDO_0005575); Gallbladder cancer: IntOGen driver in 1 cohort (GBC); Melanoma: Open Targets association 0.52 with melanoma (MONDO_0005105)

## 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: IntOGen calls it an activating (Act) driver in 1 cohort; UniProt disease notes describe a translocation or gene fusion involving the gene. Evidence tier "cohort-driver" is the strongest of those signals.
- Prevalence not recorded: none of the sources gives a positivity rate.

## Sources

- HGNC HGNC:9886: https://www.genenames.org/data/gene-symbol-report/#!/hgnc_id/HGNC:9886
- UniProt P29375: https://www.uniprot.org/uniprotkb/P29375/entry
- NCBI Gene 5927: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/5927
- Ensembl ENSG00000073614: https://www.ensembl.org/Homo_sapiens/Gene/Summary?g=ENSG00000073614

## Connected records

- collections: [IntOGen](https://onco.cc/collections/intogen/), [Open Targets Platform](https://onco.cc/collections/open-targets/)
- cancers: [Colorectal cancer](https://onco.cc/cancers/colorectal/), [Gallbladder cancer](https://onco.cc/cancers/gallbladder/), [Leukaemia (all types)](https://onco.cc/cancers/leukaemia/), [Lung cancer (all types)](https://onco.cc/cancers/lung-cancer/), [Melanoma](https://onco.cc/cancers/melanoma/), [Skin cancer (all types)](https://onco.cc/cancers/skin-cancer/)
- pathways: [Drug-tolerant persister cells](https://onco.cc/pathways/drug-tolerant-persisters/)

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JSON: https://onco.cc/api/v1/entities/kdm5a.json