Oncogenic Alternative Splicing Switches: Role in Cancer Progression and Prospects for Therapy

Alterations in the abundance or activities of alternative splicing regulators generate alternatively spliced variants that contribute to multiple aspects of tumor establishment, progression and resistance to therapeutic treatments. Notably, many cancer-associated genes are regulated through alternat...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Serena Bonomi, Stefania Gallo, Morena Catillo, Daniela Pignataro, Giuseppe Biamonti, Claudia Ghigna
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Hindawi Limited 2013-01-01
Series:International Journal of Cell Biology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/962038
Description
Summary:Alterations in the abundance or activities of alternative splicing regulators generate alternatively spliced variants that contribute to multiple aspects of tumor establishment, progression and resistance to therapeutic treatments. Notably, many cancer-associated genes are regulated through alternative splicing suggesting a significant role of this post-transcriptional regulatory mechanism in the production of oncogenes and tumor suppressors. Thus, the study of alternative splicing in cancer might provide a better understanding of the malignant transformation and identify novel pathways that are uniquely relevant to tumorigenesis. Understanding the molecular underpinnings of cancer-associated alternative splicing isoforms will not only help to explain many fundamental hallmarks of cancer, but will also offer unprecedented opportunities to improve the efficacy of anti-cancer treatments.
ISSN:1687-8876
1687-8884