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Updated: Jun 30, 2026

Detection of Alternative Splicing During Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition
11:48

Detection of Alternative Splicing During Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition

Published on: October 9, 2014

MBNL1-mediated alternative splicing in cancer: underlying mechanism, isoform regulation, and translational

Huidan Tan1, Rongyan Zhao1, Bo Liu1

  • 1Department of Pharmacy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.

Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences
|June 29, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Alternative splicing (AS) dysregulation is key in cancer. Muscleblind-like splicing regulator 1 (MBNL1) alters cancer-related gene splicing, showing potential for cancer biomarkers and therapies.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Biology
  • RNA Biology

Background:

  • Alternative splicing (AS) expands proteomic diversity but its dysregulation is a cancer hallmark.
  • Muscleblind-like splicing regulator 1 (MBNL1), an RNA-binding protein, controls AS and transcript processing.
  • Altered MBNL1 expression and localization are observed in various cancer types.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review MBNL1's role in cancer-associated AS.
  • To summarize MBNL1's mechanisms, expression, and therapeutic potential in cancer.
  • To discuss challenges and future directions for MBNL1-targeted cancer therapy.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of MBNL1's function in cancer.
  • Analysis of MBNL1's impact on cancer-related gene splicing.
  • Examination of MBNL1 expression patterns and isoform-specific features in tumors.

Main Results:

  • MBNL1 reshapes splicing programs of cancer-related genes.
  • MBNL1 exhibits context-dependent tumor-suppressive or tumor-supportive roles.
  • MBNL1 alterations are frequent in multiple cancer types, influencing progression and resistance.

Conclusions:

  • MBNL1 is a crucial regulator of cancer-associated AS.
  • MBNL1 holds promise for biomarker development and precision cancer therapy.
  • Targeting MBNL1 and its splicing network offers new therapeutic strategies.
Keywords:
MBNL1RNA-binding proteinalternative splicingcancerisoform regulation

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