Evaluating the 'ARID' landscape of SWI/SNF complexes with relevance to cancer

ARID domain containing proteins function as essential structural and functional elements of the SWI/SNF (also known as BAF) chromatin remodelling complex. Dysregulation of the ARID proteins, occurring at both the transcriptional and translational levels, is linked to a range of diseases including developmental disorders and cancer. Recent studies have revealed several forms of ARID protein perturbations that occur through mutations, chromosomal alterations and epigenetic and post-translational modifications. Despite these insights, there remains a significant research gap in understanding ARID protein modifications and their impact on tumorigenesis. In this review, we highlight the current knowledge on the mutational spectrum and other modes of ARID protein alterations across different cancer types. We further discuss how cancer cells hijack these alterations to promote tumorigenesis. We emphasize the need to investigate the perturbations of these critical SWI/SNF complex components and their possible utilization for developing targeted therapies in cancer.