Abstract:
Colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks as one of the top causes of cancer mortality worldwide
and its incidence is on the rise, particularly in low-middle-income countries (LMICs). There are
several factors that contribute to the development and progression of CRC. Alternative splicing (AS)
was found to be one of the molecular mechanisms underlying the development and progression
of CRC. With the advent of genome/transcriptome sequencing and large patient databases, the
broad role of aberrant AS in cancer development and progression has become clear. AS affects
cancer initiation, proliferation, invasion, and migration. These splicing changes activate oncogenes
or deactivate tumor suppressor genes by producing altered amounts of normally functional or new
proteins with different, even opposing, functions. Thus, identifying and characterizing CRC-specific
alternative splicing events and variants might help in designing new therapeutic splicing disrupter
drugs. CRC-specific splicing events can be used as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. In this
review, alternatively spliced events and their role in CRC development will be discussed. The paper
also reviews recent research on alternatively spliced events that might be exploited as prognostic,
diagnostic, and targeted therapeutic indicators. Of particular interest is the targeting of protein
arginine methyltransferase (PMRT) isoforms for the development of new treatments and diagnostic
tools. The potential challenges and limitations in translating these discoveries into clinical practice
will also be addressed.
