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Alors-Pérez E, Pedraza-Arevalo S, Blázquez-Encinas R, Moreno-Montilla MT, García-Vioque V, Berbel I, Luque RM, Sainz B, Ibáñez-Costa A, Castaño JP. Splicing alterations in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: a new molecular landscape with translational potential. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2023; 42:282. [PMID: 37880792 PMCID: PMC10601233 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02858-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains one of the most lethal cancers worldwide, mainly due to its late diagnosis and lack of effective therapies, translating into a low 5-year 12% survival rate, despite extensive clinical efforts to improve outcomes. International cooperative studies have provided informative multiomic landscapes of PDAC, but translation of these discoveries into clinical advances are lagging. Likewise, early diagnosis biomarkers and new therapeutic tools are sorely needed to tackle this cancer. The study of poorly explored molecular processes, such as splicing, can provide new tools in this regard. Alternative splicing of pre-RNA allows the generation of multiple RNA variants from a single gene and thereby contributes to fundamental biological processes by finely tuning gene expression. However, alterations in alternative splicing are linked to many diseases, and particularly to cancer, where it can contribute to tumor initiation, progression, metastasis and drug resistance. Splicing defects are increasingly being associated with PDAC, including both mutations or dysregulation of components of the splicing machinery and associated factors, and altered expression of specific relevant gene variants. Such disruptions can be a key element enhancing pancreatic tumor progression or metastasis, while they can also provide suitable tools to identify potential candidate biomarkers and discover new actionable targets. In this review, we aimed to summarize the current information about dysregulation of splicing-related elements and aberrant splicing isoforms in PDAC, and to describe their relationship with the development, progression and/or aggressiveness of this dismal cancer, as well as their potential as therapeutic tools and targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilia Alors-Pérez
- Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Córdoba (IMIBIC), Cordoba, Spain
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology, and Immunology, University of Córdoba, Cordoba, Spain
- Reina Sofía University Hospital (HURS), Cordoba, Spain
| | - Sergio Pedraza-Arevalo
- Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Córdoba (IMIBIC), Cordoba, Spain
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology, and Immunology, University of Córdoba, Cordoba, Spain
- Reina Sofía University Hospital (HURS), Cordoba, Spain
| | - Ricardo Blázquez-Encinas
- Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Córdoba (IMIBIC), Cordoba, Spain
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology, and Immunology, University of Córdoba, Cordoba, Spain
- Reina Sofía University Hospital (HURS), Cordoba, Spain
| | - María Trinidad Moreno-Montilla
- Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Córdoba (IMIBIC), Cordoba, Spain
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology, and Immunology, University of Córdoba, Cordoba, Spain
- Reina Sofía University Hospital (HURS), Cordoba, Spain
| | - Víctor García-Vioque
- Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Córdoba (IMIBIC), Cordoba, Spain
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology, and Immunology, University of Córdoba, Cordoba, Spain
- Reina Sofía University Hospital (HURS), Cordoba, Spain
| | - Inmaculada Berbel
- Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Córdoba (IMIBIC), Cordoba, Spain
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology, and Immunology, University of Córdoba, Cordoba, Spain
- Reina Sofía University Hospital (HURS), Cordoba, Spain
| | - Raúl M Luque
- Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Córdoba (IMIBIC), Cordoba, Spain
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology, and Immunology, University of Córdoba, Cordoba, Spain
- Reina Sofía University Hospital (HURS), Cordoba, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición, (CIBERObn), Córdoba, Spain
| | - Bruno Sainz
- Department of Cancer Biology, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Alberto Sols CSIC-UAM, Madrid, Spain
- Cancer Stem Cells and Fibroinflammatory Microenvironment Group, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Area 3, Cancer, Madrid, Spain
- Gastrointestinal Tumours Research Programme, Biomedical Research Network in Cancer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Alejandro Ibáñez-Costa
- Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Córdoba (IMIBIC), Cordoba, Spain.
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology, and Immunology, University of Córdoba, Cordoba, Spain.
- Reina Sofía University Hospital (HURS), Cordoba, Spain.
| | - Justo P Castaño
- Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Córdoba (IMIBIC), Cordoba, Spain.
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology, and Immunology, University of Córdoba, Cordoba, Spain.
- Reina Sofía University Hospital (HURS), Cordoba, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición, (CIBERObn), Córdoba, Spain.
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Martinez-Useros J, Martin-Galan M, Florez-Cespedes M, Garcia-Foncillas J. Epigenetics of Most Aggressive Solid Tumors: Pathways, Targets and Treatments. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:3209. [PMID: 34198989 PMCID: PMC8267921 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13133209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Highly aggressive tumors are characterized by a highly invasive phenotype, and they display chemoresistance. Furthermore, some of the tumors lack expression of biomarkers for target therapies. This is the case of small-cell lung cancer, triple-negative breast cancer, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, glioblastoma, metastatic melanoma, and advanced ovarian cancer. Unfortunately, these patients show a low survival rate and most of the available drugs are ineffective. In this context, epigenetic modifications have emerged to provide the causes and potential treatments for such types of tumors. Methylation and hydroxymethylation of DNA, and histone modifications, are the most common targets of epigenetic therapy, to influence gene expression without altering the DNA sequence. These modifications could impact both oncogenes and tumor suppressor factors, which influence several molecular pathways such as epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, WNT/β-catenin, PI3K-mTOR, MAPK, or mismatch repair machinery. However, epigenetic changes are inducible and reversible events that could be influenced by some environmental conditions, such as UV exposure, smoking habit, or diet. Changes in DNA methylation status and/or histone modification, such as acetylation, methylation or phosphorylation, among others, are the most important targets for epigenetic cancer therapy. Therefore, the present review aims to compile the basic information of epigenetic modifications, pathways and factors, and provide a rationale for the research and treatment of highly aggressive tumors with epigenetic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Martinez-Useros
- Translational Oncology Division, OncoHealth Institute, Fundacion Jimenez Diaz University Hospital, Avenida Reyes Catolicos 2, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Mario Martin-Galan
- Translational Oncology Division, OncoHealth Institute, Fundacion Jimenez Diaz University Hospital, Avenida Reyes Catolicos 2, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | | | - Jesus Garcia-Foncillas
- Translational Oncology Division, OncoHealth Institute, Fundacion Jimenez Diaz University Hospital, Avenida Reyes Catolicos 2, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
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