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Mou Z, Spencer J, McGrath JS, Harries LW. Comprehensive analysis of alternative splicing across multiple transcriptomic cohorts reveals prognostic signatures in prostate cancer. Hum Genomics 2023; 17:97. [PMID: 37924098 PMCID: PMC10623736 DOI: 10.1186/s40246-023-00545-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alternative splicing (AS) plays a crucial role in transcriptomic diversity and is a hallmark of cancer that profoundly influences the development and progression of prostate cancer (PCa), a prevalent and potentially life-limiting cancer among men. Accumulating evidence has highlighted the association between AS dysregulation and the onset and progression of PCa. However, a comprehensive and integrative analysis of AS profiles at the event level, utilising data from multiple high-throughput cohorts and evaluating the prognosis of PCa progression, remains lacking and calls for thorough exploration. RESULTS We identified a differentially expressed retained intron event in ZWINT across three distinct cohorts, encompassing an original array-based dataset profiled by us previously and two RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) datasets. Subsequent in-depth analyses of these RNA-seq datasets revealed 141 altered events, of which 21 demonstrated a significant association with patients' biochemical recurrence-free survival (BCRFS). We formulated an AS event-based prognostic signature, capturing six pivotal events in genes CYP4F12, NFATC4, PIGO, CYP3A5, ALS2CL, and FXYD3. This signature effectively differentiated high-risk patients diagnosed with PCa, who experienced shorter BCRFS, from their low-risk counterparts. Notably, the signature's predictive power surpassed traditional clinicopathological markers in forecasting 5-year BCRFS, demonstrating robust performance in both internal and external validation sets. Lastly, we constructed a novel nomogram that integrates patients' Gleason scores with pathological tumour stages, demonstrating improved prognostication of BCRFS. CONCLUSIONS Prediction of clinical progression remains elusive in PCa. This research uncovers novel splicing events associated with BCRFS, augmenting existing prognostic tools, thus potentially refining clinical decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuofan Mou
- Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Exeter Medical School, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Barrack Road, Exeter, EX2 5DW, UK
| | - Jack Spencer
- Translational Research Exchange at Exeter, Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - John S McGrath
- Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Exeter Medical School, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Barrack Road, Exeter, EX2 5DW, UK
- Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Barrack Road, Exeter, EX2 5DW, UK
| | - Lorna W Harries
- Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Exeter Medical School, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Barrack Road, Exeter, EX2 5DW, UK.
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Tian B, Bian Y, Bian DJ, Gao Y, Zhang X, Zhou SW, Zhang YH, Pang YN, Li ZS, Wang LW. Knowledge mapping of alternative splicing of cancer from 2012 to 2021: A bibliometric analysis. Front Oncol 2022; 12:1068805. [PMID: 36591484 PMCID: PMC9795218 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1068805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background As a processing method of RNA precursors, alternative splicing (AS) is critical to normal cellular activities. Aberrant AS events are associated with cancer development and can be promising targets to treat cancer. However, no detailed and unbiased study describes the current state of AS of cancer research. We aim to measure and recognize the current state and trends of AS cancer research in this study. Methods The Web of Science Core Collection was used to acquire the articles. Utilizing three bibliometric tools (CiteSpace, VOSviewer, R-bibliometrix), we were able to measure and recognize the influence and collaboration data of individual articles, journals, and co-citations. Analysis of co-occurrence and burst information helped us identify the trending research areas related to AS of cancer. Results From 2012 to 2021, the total number of papers on AS of cancer published in 766 academic journals was 3,507, authored by 20,406 researchers in 405 institutions from 80 countries/regions. Research involving AS of cancer genes was primarily conducted in the United States and China; simultaneously, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fudan University, and National Cancer Institute were the institutions with strong research capabilities. Scorilas Andreas is the scholar with the most publications, while the most co-citations were generated by Wang, Eric T. Plos One published the most papers on AS of cancer, while J Biol Chem was the most co-cited academic journal in this field. The results of keyword co-occurrence analysis can be divided into three types: molecular (P53, CD44, androgen receptor, srsf3, esrp1), pathological process (apoptosis, EMT, metastasis, angiogenesis, proliferation), and disease (breast cancer, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, gastric cancer). Conclusion Research on AS of cancer has been increasing in intensity over the past decade. Current AS of cancer studies focused on the hallmarks of AS in cancer and AS signatures including diagnostic and therapeutic targets. Among them, the current trends are splicing factors regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition and other hallmarks, aberrant splicing events in tumors, and further mechanisms. These might give researchers interested in this field a forward-looking perspective and inform further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Tian
- Department of Gastroenterology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan Bian
- Department of Gastroenterology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - De-Jian Bian
- Department of Emergency, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ye Gao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xun Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Si-Wei Zhou
- Department of Gastroenterology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan-Hui Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ya-Nan Pang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China,Shanghai Institute of Pancreatic Diseases, Shanghai, China,*Correspondence: Ya-Nan Pang, ; Zhao-Shen Li, ; Luo-Wei Wang,
| | - Zhao-Shen Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China,*Correspondence: Ya-Nan Pang, ; Zhao-Shen Li, ; Luo-Wei Wang,
| | - Luo-Wei Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China,*Correspondence: Ya-Nan Pang, ; Zhao-Shen Li, ; Luo-Wei Wang,
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Mou Z, Spencer J, Knight B, John J, McCullagh P, McGrath JS, Harries LW. Gene expression analysis reveals a 5-gene signature for progression-free survival in prostate cancer. Front Oncol 2022; 12:914078. [PMID: 36033512 PMCID: PMC9413154 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.914078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most common male cancer worldwide, but effective biomarkers for the presence or progression risk of disease are currently elusive. In a series of nine matched histologically confirmed PCa and benign samples, we carried out an integrated transcriptome-wide gene expression analysis, including differential gene expression analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), which identified a set of potential gene markers highly associated with tumour status (malignant vs. benign). We then used these genes to establish a minimal progression-free survival (PFS)-associated gene signature (GS) (PCBP1, PABPN1, PTPRF, DANCR, and MYC) using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and stepwise multivariate Cox regression analyses from The Cancer Genome Atlas prostate adenocarcinoma (TCGA-PRAD) dataset. Our signature was able to predict PFS over 1, 3, and 5 years in TCGA-PRAD dataset, with area under the curve (AUC) of 0.64–0.78, and our signature remained as a prognostic factor independent of age, Gleason score, and pathological T and N stages. A nomogram combining the signature and Gleason score demonstrated improved predictive capability for PFS (AUC: 0.71–0.85) and was superior to the Cambridge Prognostic Group (CPG) model alone and some conventionally used clinicopathological factors in predicting PFS. In conclusion, we have identified and validated a novel five-gene signature and established a nomogram that effectively predicted PFS in patients with PCa. Findings may improve current prognosis tools for PFS and contribute to clinical decision-making in PCa treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuofan Mou
- Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Exeter Medical School, Devon, United Kingdom
| | - Jack Spencer
- Translational Research Exchange at Exeter, Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Bridget Knight
- National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Exeter Clinical Research Facility, Royal Devon and Exeter National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust, Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Joseph John
- Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Exeter Medical School, Devon, United Kingdom
- Exeter Surgical Health Services Research Unit, Royal Devon and Exeter National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Paul McCullagh
- Department of Pathology, Royal Devon and Exeter National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - John S. McGrath
- Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Exeter Medical School, Devon, United Kingdom
- Exeter Surgical Health Services Research Unit, Royal Devon and Exeter National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Lorna W. Harries
- Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Exeter Medical School, Devon, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Lorna W. Harries,
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He Y, Xu W, Xiao YT, Huang H, Gu D, Ren S. Targeting signaling pathways in prostate cancer: mechanisms and clinical trials. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2022; 7:198. [PMID: 35750683 PMCID: PMC9232569 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-022-01042-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) affects millions of men globally. Due to advances in understanding genomic landscapes and biological functions, the treatment of PCa continues to improve. Recently, various new classes of agents, which include next-generation androgen receptor (AR) signaling inhibitors (abiraterone, enzalutamide, apalutamide, and darolutamide), bone-targeting agents (radium-223 chloride, zoledronic acid), and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors (olaparib, rucaparib, and talazoparib) have been developed to treat PCa. Agents targeting other signaling pathways, including cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)4/6, Ak strain transforming (AKT), wingless-type protein (WNT), and epigenetic marks, have successively entered clinical trials. Furthermore, prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) targeting agents such as 177Lu-PSMA-617 are promising theranostics that could improve both diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic efficacy. Advanced clinical studies with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have shown limited benefits in PCa, whereas subgroups of PCa with mismatch repair (MMR) or CDK12 inactivation may benefit from ICIs treatment. In this review, we summarized the targeted agents of PCa in clinical trials and their underlying mechanisms, and further discussed their limitations and future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yundong He
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Weidong Xu
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu-Tian Xiao
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Shanghai, China.,Department of Urology, Shanghai Changhai Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Haojie Huang
- Department of Urology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Di Gu
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Shancheng Ren
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Shanghai, China.
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刘 佳, 米 春, 龙 文, 孙 涛. Role of alternative splicing events in endometrial cancer prognosis. ZHONG NAN DA XUE XUE BAO. YI XUE BAN = JOURNAL OF CENTRAL SOUTH UNIVERSITY. MEDICAL SCIENCES 2021; 46:680-688. [PMID: 34382583 PMCID: PMC10930128 DOI: 10.11817/j.issn.1672-7347.2021.190763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Alternative splicing (AS), as a potent and pervasive mechanism of transcriptional regulation, can expand the genome's coding capacity. Growing evidence suggests that the AS events may be associated with various types of cancer. This study aims to explore the prognostic value of AS in endometrial cancer (EC). METHODS Differently expressed AS (DEAS) events were screened by pairing the percent spliced in (PSI) value of tumor and paracancerous tissues in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, and gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) were performed on their parental gene analysis of organisms. Subsequently, univariate Cox analysis was used to identify the prognostic AS events and a stepwise multi-factor Cox regression analysis was performed to further construct prognostic models. Furthermore, the diagnostic value of the prognostic model was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and Kaplan-Meier analysis. Finally, the regulatory network of AS events and splicing factory in the model was also constructed. RESULTS A total of 28 281 AS events were detected in EC. Of them, 42 DEAS were identified, and their parental genes were involved in tumor-related processes such as meiotic nuclear division, alpha-amino acid biosynthetic process, nuclear division, and so on. Univariate Cox analysis identified 2 289 prognostic-related AS events and constructed Cox prognostic models based on 7 different types and all types of AS events, in which the area under the curve of ROC of all types was as high as 0.882 and was better than that of 7 different splicing types. Finally, 12 splicing factors and AS events showed an obvious regulatory relationship. CONCLUSIONS We use the whole genome analysis of AS events to establish a scientific prognostic prediction model for EC patients, which provides a reliable theoretical basis for the evaluation of EC clinical prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - 春梅 米
- 米春梅,, ORCID: 0000-0002-8558-8602
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Qiu J, Wang C, Hu H, Chen S, Ding X, Cai Y. Transcriptome analysis and prognostic model construction based on splicing profiling in glioblastoma. Oncol Lett 2021; 21:138. [PMID: 33552257 PMCID: PMC7798022 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2020.12399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive malignant brain tumour, with high morbidity and mortality rates. Currently, there is a lack of systematic and comprehensive analysis on the prognostic significance of alternative splicing (AS) profiling for GBM. The GBM data, including RNA-sequencing, corresponding clinical information and the expression levels of splicing factor genes, were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas and the SpliceAid2 database. The prognostic models were assessed by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator Cox regression analysis. The correlation network between survival-associated AS events and splicing factors was plotted. Prognostic models were built for every AS event type and performed well for risk stratification in patients with GBM. The final prognostic signature served as an independent prognostic factor [hazard ratio (HR), 4.61; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.97-7.16; P=9.66×10-12] for several clinical parameters, including age, sex, isocitrate dehydrogenase mutation, O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase promoter methylation and risk score. The HR for risk score with GBM was 1.0063 (95% CI, 1.0024-1.0103). The splicing regulatory network indicated that heat shock protein b-1, protein arginine N-methyltransferase 5, protein FAM50B and endoplasmic reticulum chaperone BiP genes were independent prognostic factors for GBM. The results of the present study support the ongoing effort in developing novel genomic models and providing potentially more effective treatment options for patients with GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiting Qiu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 201803, P.R. China
| | - Chunhui Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200003, P.R. China
| | - Hongkang Hu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200003, P.R. China
| | - Sarah Chen
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA
| | - Xuehua Ding
- Department of Neurosurgery, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200003, P.R. China
| | - Yu Cai
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 201803, P.R. China
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Bessa C, Matos P, Jordan P, Gonçalves V. Alternative Splicing: Expanding the Landscape of Cancer Biomarkers and Therapeutics. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21239032. [PMID: 33261131 PMCID: PMC7729450 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21239032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Alternative splicing (AS) is a critical post-transcriptional regulatory mechanism used by more than 95% of transcribed human genes and responsible for structural transcript variation and proteome diversity. In the past decade, genome-wide transcriptome sequencing has revealed that AS is tightly regulated in a tissue- and developmental stage-specific manner, and also frequently dysregulated in multiple human cancer types. It is currently recognized that splicing defects, including genetic alterations in the spliced gene, altered expression of both core components or regulators of the precursor messenger RNA (pre-mRNA) splicing machinery, or both, are major drivers of tumorigenesis. Hence, in this review we provide an overview of our current understanding of splicing alterations in cancer, and emphasize the need to further explore the cancer-specific splicing programs in order to obtain new insights in oncology. Furthermore, we also discuss the recent advances in the identification of dysregulated splicing signatures on a genome-wide scale and their potential use as biomarkers. Finally, we highlight the therapeutic opportunities arising from dysregulated splicing and summarize the current approaches to therapeutically target AS in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cláudia Bessa
- Department of Human Genetics, National Health Institute Dr. Ricardo Jorge, 1649-016 Lisbon, Portugal; (C.B.); (P.M.)
- BioISI—Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Paulo Matos
- Department of Human Genetics, National Health Institute Dr. Ricardo Jorge, 1649-016 Lisbon, Portugal; (C.B.); (P.M.)
- BioISI—Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Peter Jordan
- Department of Human Genetics, National Health Institute Dr. Ricardo Jorge, 1649-016 Lisbon, Portugal; (C.B.); (P.M.)
- BioISI—Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal
- Correspondence: (P.J.); (V.G.); Tel.: +351-217-519-380 (P.J.)
| | - Vânia Gonçalves
- Department of Human Genetics, National Health Institute Dr. Ricardo Jorge, 1649-016 Lisbon, Portugal; (C.B.); (P.M.)
- BioISI—Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal
- Correspondence: (P.J.); (V.G.); Tel.: +351-217-519-380 (P.J.)
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Lin P, He RQ, Huang ZG, Zhang R, Wu HY, Shi L, Li XJ, Li Q, Chen G, Yang H, He Y. Role of global aberrant alternative splicing events in papillary thyroid cancer prognosis. Aging (Albany NY) 2020; 11:2082-2097. [PMID: 30986203 PMCID: PMC6503875 DOI: 10.18632/aging.101902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2018] [Accepted: 03/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alternative splicing events have been increasingly reported for anomalous perturbations in various cancers, including papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). METHODS Integration analysis of RNA sequencing and clinical information were utilized to identify survival associated splicing events in PTC. Then, several prognosis-related splicing events were submitted to develop moderate predictors for survival monitoring by using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator model. In addition, several biomedical computational algorithms were conducted to identify pathways enriched by genes with prognostic splicing events and construct regulatory network dominated by splicing factors. RESULTS Survival analysis in 496 PTC patients indicated that TNM stage, tumor stage, distant metastasis and tumor status were significantly correlated with PTC patients' progression-free interval. 2799 splicing events were identified as prognostic molecular events. Functional enrichment analysis suggested that prognostic splicing events are associated with several energy metabolism-related processes. Based on these prognostic events, several prognostic signatures were developed. The final prognostic signature acted as an independent prognostic factor after adjusting for several clinical parameters. Interestingly, splicing regulatory network was constructed to display potential regulatory mechanisms of splicing events in PTC. CONCLUSIONS Our analysis provides the status of splicing events involved in the progression and may represent an underappreciated hallmark of PTC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Lin
- Department of Medical Ultrasound, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021, P. R. China
| | - Rong-Quan He
- Department of Medical Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021, P. R. China
| | - Zhi-Guang Huang
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021, P. R. China
| | - Rui Zhang
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021, P. R. China
| | - Hua-Yu Wu
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Pre-Clinical Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, P.R. China
| | - Lin Shi
- Departments of Pathology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, P.R. China
| | - Xiao-Jiao Li
- Departments of PET/CT, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, P.R. China
| | - Qing Li
- Department of Medical Ultrasound, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021, P. R. China
| | - Gang Chen
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021, P. R. China
| | - Hong Yang
- Department of Medical Ultrasound, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021, P. R. China
| | - Yun He
- Department of Medical Ultrasound, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021, P. R. China
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Pathway-guided analysis identifies Myc-dependent alternative pre-mRNA splicing in aggressive prostate cancers. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:5269-5279. [PMID: 32086391 PMCID: PMC7071906 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1915975117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
We sought to define the landscape of alternative pre-mRNA splicing in prostate cancers and the relationship of exon choice to known cancer driver alterations. To do so, we compiled a metadataset composed of 876 RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) samples from five publicly available sources representing a range of prostate phenotypes from normal tissue to drug-resistant metastases. We subjected these samples to exon-level analysis with rMATS-turbo, purpose-built software designed for large-scale analyses of splicing, and identified 13,149 high-confidence cassette exon events with variable incorporation across samples. We then developed a computational framework, pathway enrichment-guided activity study of alternative splicing (PEGASAS), to correlate transcriptional signatures of 50 different cancer driver pathways with these alternative splicing events. We discovered that Myc signaling was correlated with incorporation of a set of 1,039 cassette exons enriched in genes encoding RNA binding proteins. Using a human prostate epithelial transformation assay, we confirmed the Myc regulation of 147 of these exons, many of which introduced frameshifts or encoded premature stop codons. Our results connect changes in alternative pre-mRNA splicing to oncogenic alterations common in prostate and many other cancers. We also establish a role for Myc in regulating RNA splicing by controlling the incorporation of nonsense-mediated decay-determinant exons in genes encoding RNA binding proteins.
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Mantsiou A, Makridakis M, Fasoulakis K, Katafigiotis I, Constantinides CA, Zoidakis J, Roubelakis MG, Vlahou A, Lygirou V. Proteomics Analysis of Formalin Fixed Paraffin Embedded Tissues in the Investigation of Prostate Cancer. J Proteome Res 2019; 19:2631-2642. [PMID: 31682457 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.9b00587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the leading causes of death in men worldwide. The molecular features, associated with the onset and progression of the disease, are under vigorous investigation. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues are valuable resources for large-scale studies; however, their application in proteomics is limited due to protein cross-linking. In this study, the adjustment of a protocol for the proteomic analysis of FFPE tissues was performed which was followed by a pilot application on FFPE PCa clinical samples to investigate whether the optimized protocol can provide biologically relevant data for the investigation of PCa. For the optimization, FFPE mouse tissues were processed using seven protein extraction protocols including combinations of homogenization methods (beads, sonication, boiling) and buffers (SDS based and urea-thiourea based). The proteome extraction efficacy was then evaluated based on protein identifications and reproducibility using SDS electrophoresis and high resolution LC-MS/MS analysis. Comparison between the FFPE and matched fresh frozen (FF) tissues, using an optimized protocol involving protein extraction with an SDS-based buffer following beads homogenization and boiling, showed a substantial overlap in protein identifications with a strong correlation in relative abundances (rs = 0.819, p < 0.001). Next, FFPE tissues (3 sections, 15 μm each per sample) from 10 patients with PCa corresponding to tumor (GS = 6 or GS ≥ 8) and adjacent benign regions were processed with the optimized protocol. Extracted proteins were analyzed by GeLC-MS/MS followed by statistical and bioinformatics analysis. Proteins significantly deregulated between PCa GS ≥ 8 and PCa GS = 6 represented extracellular matrix organization, gluconeogenesis, and phosphorylation pathways. Proteins deregulated between cancerous and adjacent benign tissues, reflected increased translation, peptide synthesis, and protein metabolism in the former, which is consistent with the literature. In conclusion, the results support the relevance of the proteomic findings in the context of PCa and the reliability of the optimized protocol for proteomics analysis of FFPE material.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Mantsiou
- Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Biotechnology Division, 4 Soranou Ephessiou Street, Athens 11527, Greece
| | - Manousos Makridakis
- Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Biotechnology Division, 4 Soranou Ephessiou Street, Athens 11527, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Fasoulakis
- Ippokrateio General Hospital of Athens, Department of Urology, 114 Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, Athens 11527, Greece
| | - Ioannis Katafigiotis
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, 1st Urology Department, Laikon Hospital, 17 Agiou Thoma Street, Athens 11527, Greece
| | - Constantinos A Constantinides
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, 1st Urology Department, Laikon Hospital, 17 Agiou Thoma Street, Athens 11527, Greece
| | - Jerome Zoidakis
- Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Biotechnology Division, 4 Soranou Ephessiou Street, Athens 11527, Greece
| | - Maria G Roubelakis
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Laboratory of Biology, 75 Mikras Assias Street, Athens 11527, Greece
| | - Antonia Vlahou
- Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Biotechnology Division, 4 Soranou Ephessiou Street, Athens 11527, Greece
| | - Vasiliki Lygirou
- Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Biotechnology Division, 4 Soranou Ephessiou Street, Athens 11527, Greece
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Cao ZX, Xiao GA, Zhang W, Ji J, Ye C, Liu D, Tian QQ, Prof YHS. Comprehensive investigation of alternative splicing and development of a prognostic risk score for prostate cancer based on six-gene signatures. J Cancer 2019; 10:5585-5596. [PMID: 31632503 PMCID: PMC6775697 DOI: 10.7150/jca.31725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2018] [Accepted: 05/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose: To systematically document alternative splicing profiles of prostate cancer in relatively large populations in order to construct a prognostic predictors model for prostate cancer. Methods: Splicing data and clinical information of 495 prostate cancer patients were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). The SpliceSeq database was used to extract information regarding splicing events. Multiple bioinformatic tools were used for functional and pathway enrichment analysis as well as for construction of gene interaction networks. Candidate gene expression profiles were verified with clinical samples using QRT-PCR. Results: We detected a total of 44070 alternative splicing events of 10381 genes in prostate cancer. 7 and 14 KEGG pathways were enriched and were associated with overall and recurrence-free survival, respectively. The expression of 396 genes among the 1526 overall survival genes associated alternative splicing events were associated with overall survival. The expression of 483 genes among the 1916 recurrence-free survival genes associated alternative splicing events were associated with recurrence-free survival. Lastly, we constructed the prognosis risk score system based on the expression profiles of six-gene signatures which in combination had an AUC of 0.941 for overall survival associated alternative splicing events, followed by overall survival associated gene expressions with an AUC of 0.794, a recurrence-free survival associated gene expression with an AUC of 0.752 and recurrence-free survival associated alternative splicing events with an AUC of 0.735, indicating its strong ability to predict patient outcome. The expression profile of the six genes was also confirmed in different prostate cell lines and clinic samples. Conclusion: Our comprehensive investigation of alternative splicing not only provided insight into the biological pathways of alternative splicing involved in the development of prostate cancer but also revealed new potential biomarkers for prognosticating as well as novel therapeutic targets for development of prostate cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe-Xu Cao
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai 200433, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Cell Engineering, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Guang-An Xiao
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai 200433, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Cell Engineering, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai 200433, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Cell Engineering, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Jin Ji
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai 200433, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Cell Engineering, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Chen Ye
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai 200433, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Cell Engineering, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Dan Liu
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai 200433, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Cell Engineering, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Qin-Qin Tian
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai 200433, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Cell Engineering, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Ying-Hao Sun Prof
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai 200433, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Cell Engineering, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai 200433, China
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12
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Taladriz-Sender A, Campbell E, Burley GA. Splice-switching small molecules: A new therapeutic approach to modulate gene expression. Methods 2019; 167:134-142. [PMID: 31203161 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2019.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2019] [Revised: 06/10/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Manipulating alternative RNA splicing events with small molecules is emerging as a viable mechanism for the development of therapeutics. A salient challenge in the field is understanding the molecular determinants defining the selectivity of splice-switching events and their mechanisms of action. In this review, the current state-of-the-art in splice-switching small molecules is described. Three examples of splice-switching small molecules are presented, and the differences in their modes of action compared.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Taladriz-Sender
- Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde. Thomas Graham Building, 295 Cathedral Street, Glasgow G1 1XL, United Kingdom
| | - Emma Campbell
- Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde. Thomas Graham Building, 295 Cathedral Street, Glasgow G1 1XL, United Kingdom
| | - Glenn A Burley
- Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde. Thomas Graham Building, 295 Cathedral Street, Glasgow G1 1XL, United Kingdom.
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13
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Coomer AO, Black F, Greystoke A, Munkley J, Elliott DJ. Alternative splicing in lung cancer. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2019; 1862:194388. [PMID: 31152916 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2019.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2019] [Accepted: 05/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Lung cancer has the highest mortality rate of all cancers worldwide. Lung cancer is a very heterogeneous disease that is often diagnosed at later stages which have a poor prognosis. Aberrant alternative splicing patterns found in lung cancer contribute to important cell functions. These include changes in splicing for the BCL2L1, MDM2, MDM4, NUMB and MET genes during lung tumourigenesis, to affect pathways involved in apoptosis, cell proliferation and cellular cohesion. Global analyses of RNASeq datasets suggest there may be many more potentially influential aberrant splicing events that need to be investigated in lung cancer. Changes in expression of the splicing factors that regulate alternative splicing events have also been identified in lung cancer. Of these, changes in expression of QKI, RBM4, RBM5, RBM6, RBM10 and SRSF1 proteins regulate many of the most frequently referenced aberrant splicing events in lung cancer. The expanding list of genes known to be aberrantly spliced in lung cancer along with the altered expression of splicing factors that regulate them are providing new clues as to how lung cancer develops, and how these events can be exploited for better treatment. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: RNA structure and splicing regulation edited by Francisco Baralle, Ravindra Singh and Stefan Stamm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice O Coomer
- Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Central Parkway, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3BZ, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| | - Fiona Black
- Cellular Pathology Department, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4LP, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Alastair Greystoke
- Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Paul O'Gorman Building, Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Jennifer Munkley
- Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Central Parkway, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3BZ, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - David J Elliott
- Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Central Parkway, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3BZ, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
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14
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Mostaghel EA. Alternative Acts: Oncogenic Splicing of Steroidogenic Enzymes in Prostate Cancer. Clin Cancer Res 2019; 25:1139-1141. [PMID: 30530817 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-18-3410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2018] [Revised: 11/20/2018] [Accepted: 12/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Castration-resistant prostate cancer is characterized by loss of the androgen inactivation enzyme HSD17B2, emphasizing the importance of intratumoral androgens in tumor progression. Inactive isoforms generated by alternative splicing destabilize the wild-type enzyme, adding steroidogenesis to other prostate cancer drivers that undergo oncogenic splicing, highlighting aberrant splicing as a therapeutic target.See related article by Gao et al., p. 1291.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elahe A Mostaghel
- Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington. .,Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
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15
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Olender J, Lee NH. Role of Alternative Splicing in Prostate Cancer Aggressiveness and Drug Resistance in African Americans. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1164:119-139. [PMID: 31576545 PMCID: PMC6777849 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-22254-3_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Alternative splicing, the process of removing introns and joining exons of pre-mRNA, is critical for growth, development, tissue homeostasis, and species diversity. Dysregulation of alternative splicing can initiate and drive disease. Aberrant alternative splicing has been shown to promote the "hallmarks of cancer" in both hematological and solid cancers. Of interest, recent work has focused on the role of alternative splicing in prostate cancer and prostate cancer health disparities. We will provide a review of prostate cancer health disparities involving the African American population, alternative RNA splicing, and alternative splicing in prostate cancer. Lastly, we will summarize our work on differential alternative splicing in prostate cancer disparities and its implications for disparate health outcomes and therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline Olender
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, GW Cancer Center, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Norman H Lee
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, GW Cancer Center, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA.
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16
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Storbeck KH, Mostaghel EA. Canonical and Noncanonical Androgen Metabolism and Activity. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1210:239-277. [PMID: 31900912 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-32656-2_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Androgens are critical drivers of prostate cancer. In this chapter we first discuss the canonical pathways of androgen metabolism and their alterations in prostate cancer progression, including the classical, backdoor and 5α-dione pathways, the role of pre-receptor DHT metabolism, and recent findings on oncogenic splicing of steroidogenic enzymes. Next, we discuss the activity and metabolism of non-canonical 11-oxygenated androgens that can activate wild-type AR and are less susceptible to glucuronidation and inactivation than the canonical androgens, thereby serving as an under-recognized reservoir of active ligands. We then discuss an emerging literature on the potential non-canonical role of androgen metabolizing enzymes in driving prostate cancer. We conclude by discussing the potential implications of these findings for prostate cancer progression, particularly in context of new agents such as abiraterone and enzalutamide, which target the AR-axis for prostate cancer therapy, including mechanisms of response and resistance and implications of these findings for future therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karl-Heinz Storbeck
- Department of Biochemistry, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Elahe A Mostaghel
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA. .,Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. .,Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center S-182, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, USA.
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17
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Wang BD, Lee NH. Aberrant RNA Splicing in Cancer and Drug Resistance. Cancers (Basel) 2018; 10:E458. [PMID: 30463359 PMCID: PMC6266310 DOI: 10.3390/cancers10110458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2018] [Revised: 11/15/2018] [Accepted: 11/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
More than 95% of the 20,000 to 25,000 transcribed human genes undergo alternative RNA splicing, which increases the diversity of the proteome. Isoforms derived from the same gene can have distinct and, in some cases, opposing functions. Accumulating evidence suggests that aberrant RNA splicing is a common and driving event in cancer development and progression. Moreover, aberrant splicing events conferring drug/therapy resistance in cancer is far more common than previously envisioned. In this review, aberrant splicing events in cancer-associated genes, namely BCL2L1, FAS, HRAS, CD44, Cyclin D1, CASP2, TMPRSS2-ERG, FGFR2, VEGF, AR and KLF6, will be discussed. Also highlighted are the functional consequences of aberrant splice variants (BCR-Abl35INS, BIM-γ, IK6, p61 BRAF V600E, CD19-∆2, AR-V7 and PIK3CD-S) in promoting resistance to cancer targeted therapy or immunotherapy. To overcome drug resistance, we discuss opportunities for developing novel strategies to specifically target the aberrant splice variants or splicing machinery that generates the splice variants. Therapeutic approaches include the development of splice variant-specific siRNAs, splice switching antisense oligonucleotides, and small molecule inhibitors targeting splicing factors, splicing factor kinases or the aberrant oncogenic protein isoforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bi-Dar Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, MD 21853, USA.
| | - Norman H Lee
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, GW Cancer Center, Washington, DC 20037, USA.
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