Splicing Genomics Events in Cervical Cancer: Insights for Phenotypic Stratification and Biomarker Potency

Genes

Sheynaz Bassa¹  FlaviaZita Francies²  Zodwa Dlamini²  Aristotelis Chatziioannou²  AndreasMartin Kaufmann² 

[1] Department of Radiation Oncology, Steve Biko Academic Hospital (SBAH), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Hatfield 0028, South Africa;SAMRC/UP Precision Prevention & Novel Drug Targets for HIV-Associated Cancers (PPNDTHAC) Extramural Unit, Pan African Cancer Research Institute (PACRI), University of Pretoria, Hatfield 0028, South Africa;

关键词: cervical cancer;    alternative splicing;    biomarkers;    SR proteins;    hnRNP;    drug resistance;   

DOI  :  10.3390/genes12020130

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Gynaecological cancers are attributed to the second most diagnosed cancers in women after breast cancer. On a global scale, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer and the most common cancer in developing countries with rapidly increasing mortality rates. Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a major contributor to the disease. HPV infections cause prominent cellular changes including alternative splicing to drive malignant transformation. A fundamental characteristic attributed to cancer is the dysregulation of cellular transcription. Alternative splicing is regulated by several splicing factors and molecular changes in these factors lead to cancer mechanisms such as tumour development and progression and drug resistance. The serine/arginine-rich (SR) proteins and heterogeneous ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs) have prominent roles in modulating alternative splicing. Evidence shows molecular alteration and expression levels in these splicing factors in cervical cancer. Furthermore, aberrant splicing events in cancer-related genes lead to chemo- and radioresistance. Identifying clinically relevant modifications in alternative splicing events and splicing variants, in cervical cancer, as potential biomarkers for their role in cancer progression and therapy resistance is scrutinised. This review will focus on the molecular mechanisms underlying the aberrant splicing events in cervical cancer that may serve as potential biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and novel drug targets.

【 授权许可】

Unknown