CCDC68 is a centriolar protein with dual roles in cellular organization and tumor suppression. Primary Function: CCDC68 functions as a critical component of centriole subdistal appendages (SDAs), required for hierarchical SDA assembly and microtubule anchoring at the centrosome during interphase 1. It cooperates with CCDC120 and other subdistal appendage components (ODF2, NIN, CEP170) to organize microtubule-anchoring structures 1. Mechanism: CCDC68 acts as a CEP170-interacting protein that competes with CCDC120 in recruiting CEP170 to SDAs, establishing a hierarchical assembly pathway for proper centrosome function 1. Disease Relevance: CCDC68 exhibits tumor-suppressive properties across multiple cancer types. In pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, CCDC68 allelic losses occur in 48% of primary tumors, and overexpression reduces proliferation and tumorigenicity 2. In colorectal cancer, CCDC68 downregulation promotes cell growth by inhibiting ITCH-mediated CDK4 degradation, with lower CCDC68 expression correlating with poor disease-free survival 3. In non-small cell lung cancer, CCDC68 knockdown increases cell proliferation and apoptotic resistance 4. Clinical Significance: CCDC68 downregulation emerges as a prognostic marker in colorectal cancer and serves as a potential therapeutic target for multiple malignancies 3. Its dysregulation may also contribute to immune disturbances in schizophrenia 5.