Numerous studies report splicing alterations in a multitude of cancers by using gene-by-gene analysis. However, understanding of the role of alternative splicing in cancer is now reaching a new level, thanks to the use of novel technologies allowing the analysis of splicing at a large-scale level. Genome-wide analyses of alternative splicing indicate that splicing alterations can affect the products of gene networks involved in key cellular programs. In addition, many splicing variants identified as being misregulated in cancer are expressed in normal tissues. These observations suggest that splicing programs contribute to specific cellular programs that are altered during cancer initiation and progression. Supporting this model, recentstudies have identified splicing factorscontrolling cancer-associated splicing programs.The characterization of splicing programs andtheir regulation by splicing factors will allowa better understanding of the genetic mechanismsinvolved in cancer initiation and progressionand the development of new therapeutictargets.
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