HECA (HECA ribonucleoprotein granule regulator) is a cell cycle regulatory protein with emerging roles in development and disease. As a homolog of Drosophila headcase, HECA functions as a negative regulator of cell proliferation through interactions with cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK2, CDK9, Cyclin A, Cyclin K) 1. The protein antagonizes Wnt/TCF4-mediated proliferation pathways and promotes cell cycle control, particularly regulating S-phase, G2-, and M-phase progression 1. In cardiovascular development, HECA variants are associated with congenital heart disease (CHD) risk, with six rare deleterious variants identified in CHD patients 2. HECA deficiency increases cardiomyocyte proliferation and migration through PDGF-BB/PDGFRB/AKT pathway activation 2. In cancer biology, HECA is downregulated in oral squamous cell carcinoma tissues and metastases compared to normal epithelium 1. HECA overexpression restores chemosensitivity to cisplatin, suggesting tumor-suppressive function 1. Epigenetic regulation of HECA has been identified in panic disorder, where differential DNA methylation in an enhancer region correlates with HECA expression in females and associates with anxiety-related traits 3. HECA expression is also altered in endometrial pathophysiology, contributing to endometrial dysfunction in endometriosis 4.