RNA splicing factors as oncoproteins and tumour suppressors.
The recent genomic characterization of cancers has revealed recurrent somatic point mutations and copy number changes affecting genes encoding RNA splicing factors. Initial studies of these 'spliceosomal mutations' suggest that the proteins bearing these mutations exhibit altered splice site and/or exon recognition preferences relative to their wild-type counterparts, resulting in cancer-specific mis-splicing. Such changes in the splicing machinery may create novel vulnerabilities in cancer cells that can be therapeutically exploited using compounds that can influence the splicing process. Further studies to dissect the biochemical, genomic and biological effects of spliceosomal mutations are crucial for the development of cancer therapies targeted at these mutations.
Computational Biology Program, Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA.|Basic Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA.
Heidi
H
Dvinge
Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, USA.
Eunhee
E
Kim
Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, USA.|Leukemia Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, USA.
Omar
O
Abdel-Wahab
Computational Biology Program, Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA.|Basic Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA.
Robert K
RK
Bradley
D002384:Catalysis; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics; D015513:Oncogene Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D000072260:RNA Splicing Factors / Q000502:physiology*
D015513:Oncogene Proteins; D000072260:RNA Splicing Factors