Mechanisms of non-coding RNA-modulated alternative splicing in cancer

Alternative splicing (AS) is a common and pivotal process for eukaryotic gene expression regulation, which enables a precursor RNA to produce multiple transcript variants with diverse cellular functions. Aberrant AS represents a hallmark of cancer, engaged in all stages of tumorigenesis from initiation to metastasis. Accumulating pieces of evidence have revealed the involvement of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in regulating AS in human cancers. In this review, we overview the underlying mechanisms of non-coding RNAs, including microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs) modulated AS at diverse levels in human cancers, and summarize their regulatory functions in tumorigenesis.

Automated summary

Alternative splicing is a crucial process in the regulation of gene expression in eukaryotes, playing a pivotal role in cancer. Non-coding RNAs, including miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs, have been found to be involved in modulating alternative splicing in human cancers, with regulatory functions in tumorigenesis.