Oncogenic role of fusion-circRNAs derived from cancer-associated chromosomal translocations

• Autores: Jlenia Guarnerio, Marco Bezzi, Jong Cheol Jeong
• Localización: Cell, ISSN 0092-8674, Vol. 165, Nº. 2, 2016, págs. 289-302
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Chromosomal translocations encode oncogenic fusion proteins that have been proven to be causally involved in tumorigenesis. Our understanding of whether such genomic alterations also affect non-coding RNAs is limited, and their impact on circular RNAs (circRNAs) has not been explored. Here, we show that well-established cancer-associated chromosomal translocations give rise to fusion circRNAs (f-circRNA) that are produced from transcribed exons of distinct genes affected by the translocations. F-circRNAs contribute to cellular transformation, promote cell viability and resistance upon therapy, and have tumor-promoting properties in in vivo models. Our work expands the current knowledge regarding molecular mechanisms involved in cancer onset and progression, with potential diagnostic and therapeutic implications.