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Updated: Aug 14, 2025

Engineering Artificial Factors to Specifically Manipulate Alternative Splicing in Human Cells
10:06

Engineering Artificial Factors to Specifically Manipulate Alternative Splicing in Human Cells

Published on: April 26, 2017

9.0K

RNA splicing dysregulation and the hallmarks of cancer

Robert K Bradley1, Olga Anczuków2,3

  • 1Computational Biology Program, Public Health Sciences Division and Basic Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA. rbradley@fredhutch.org.

Nature Reviews. Cancer
|January 10, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Cancer cells exhibit altered RNA splicing, driving tumor growth and spread. Targeting these splicing defects offers promising new cancer therapies by correcting or blocking abnormal mRNA isoforms.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Dysregulated RNA splicing is a hallmark of nearly all cancer types.
  • Alterations in splicing stem from mutations and changes in regulatory factors.
  • Splicing dysregulation promotes cancer by affecting cell growth, death, migration, and immune evasion.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review RNA splicing alterations in cancer.
  • To discuss the role of splicing dysregulation in tumor initiation and progression.
  • To explore current and future therapeutic strategies targeting RNA splicing in cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of cancer-associated splicing alterations.
  • Analysis of mechanisms by which splicing dysregulation promotes tumorigenesis.
  • Examination of therapeutic approaches targeting cancer-associated mRNA isoforms and splicing factors.

Main Results:

  • Identified specific cancer-associated splicing alterations and isoforms crucial for cancer development.
  • Highlighted the therapeutic potential of correcting or inhibiting these splicing defects.
  • Noted the development of clinical-grade small molecules for modulating RNA splicing as anticancer agents.

Conclusions:

  • RNA splicing alterations are fundamental to cancer biology.
  • Targeting RNA splicing presents a promising therapeutic avenue for cancer treatment.
  • Further research is needed to translate splicing-based therapies into clinical practice.

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