Identification of an Immunogenic Medulloblastoma-Specific Fusion Involving EPC2 and GULP1

Exploring a distinct FGFR2::DLG5 rearrangement in a low-grade neuroepithelial tumor: A case report and mini-review of protein fusions in brain tumors

We report the novel clinical presentation of a primary brain neoplasm in a 30-year-old man with a mass-like area in the anteromedial temporal lobe. Histopathological analysis revealed a low-grade neuroepithelial tumor with cytologically abnormal neurons and atypical glial cells within the cerebral cortex. Molecular analysis showed a previously undescribed FGFR2::DLG5 rearrangement. We discuss the clinical significance and molecular implications of this fusion event, shedding light on its potential impact on tumor development and patient prognosis. Additionally, an extensive review places the finding in this case in the context of protein fusions in brain tumors in general and highlights their diverse manifestations, underlying molecular mechanisms, and therapeutic implications.

Recent advances in the investigation of fusion RNAs and their role in molecular pathology of cancer

Gene fusions have had a significant role in the development of various types of cancer, oftentimes involved in oncogenic activities through dysregulation of gene expression or signalling pathways. Some cancer-associated chromosomal translocations can undergo backsplicing, resulting in fusion-circular RNAs, a more stable isoform immune to RNase degradation. This stability makes fusion circular RNAs a promising diagnostic biomarker for cancer. While the detection of linear fusion RNAs and their function in certain cancers have been described in literature, fusion circular RNAs lag behind due to their low abundance in cancer cells. This review highlights current literature on the role of linear and circular fusion transcripts in cancer, tools currently available for detecting of these chimeric RNAs and their function and how they play a role in tumorigenesis.

New Strategies in Diagnosis and Treatments for Brain Tumors

In general, cancer is one of the most frequent causes of death [...].

Non-Canonical Splicing and Its Implications in Brain Physiology and Cancer

The advance of experimental and computational techniques has allowed us to highlight the existence of numerous different mechanisms of RNA maturation, which have been so far unknown. Besides canonical splicing, consisting of the removal of introns from pre-mRNA molecules, non-canonical splicing events may occur to further increase the regulatory and coding potential of the human genome. Among these, splicing of microexons, recursive splicing and biogenesis of circular and chimeric RNAs through back-splicing and trans-splicing processes, respectively, all contribute to expanding the repertoire of RNA transcripts with newly acquired regulatory functions. Interestingly, these non-canonical splicing events seem to occur more frequently in the central nervous system, affecting neuronal development and differentiation programs with important implications on brain physiology. Coherently, dysregulation of non-canonical RNA processing events is associated with brain disorders, including brain tumours. Herein, we summarize the current knowledge on molecular and regulatory mechanisms underlying canonical and non-canonical splicing events with particular emphasis on cis-acting elements and trans-acting factors that all together orchestrate splicing catalysis reactions and decisions. Lastly, we review the impact of non-canonical splicing on brain physiology and pathology and how unconventional splicing mechanisms may be targeted or exploited for novel therapeutic strategies in cancer.