Alternative splicing in prostate and breast cancer

Abstract

Alternative splicing of mRNA precursors allows the synthesis of multiple mRNAs from a single primary transcript, thus contributing to proteomic diversity in higher eukaryotes. Multiple studies demonstrate that alternative splicing patterns are altered during cancer progression. Several different mechanisms can contribute to changes in the regulation of alternative splicing. This report will provide an overview of how splicing microarrays and large-scale sequencing are being used to identify splicing changes in breast and prostate cancer. Global analyses of splice variants have identified cancer-specific splice variant patterns that have potential use as biomarkers and potentially have prognostic value as well as may represent novel therapeutic targets. A description of specific splice variants with differential expression in these cancers and their possible functions will be presented. © 2010 Bentham Open.