Chimeric RNAs and their implication in prostate cancer

Introduction.Specific gene fusions and their resultant fusion products,including chimeric ribonucleic acid(RNA)and protein,have long served as ideal tumor diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets.Despite this,only a few systematic studies on chimeric RNAs have been conducted in prostate cancer(PCa).In this study,we summarize the discovery pipeline,formation mechanisms,method of action,and future perspectives of chimeric RNAs.We aim to provide a viewpoint for exploring novel targets for diagnosing or treating PCa.

Gene fusions and chimeric RNAs,and their implications in cancer

Gene fusions are appreciated as ideal cancer biomarkers and therapeutic targets.Chimeric RNAs are traditionally thought to be products of gene fusions,and thus,also cancerspecific.Recent research has demonstrated that chimeric RNAs can be generated by intergenic splicing in the absence of gene fusion,and such chimeric RNAs are also found in normal physiology.These new findings challenge the traditional theory of chimeric RNAs exclusivity to cancer,and complicates use of chimeric RNAs in cancer detection.Here,we provide an overview of gene fusions and chimeric RNAs,and emphasize their differences.We note that gene fusions are able to generate chimeric RNAs in accordance with the central dogma of biology,and that chimeric RNAs may also be able to influence the generation of the gene fusions per the“horse before the cart”hypothesis.We further expand upon the“horse before the cart”hypothesis,summarizing current evidence in support of the theory and exploring its potential impact on the field.

Research Progress of Chimeric RNA and Health

With the development of deep sequencing and bioinformatics technology, a large number of products produced by abnormal RNA splicing, such as chimeric RNA and chimeric/fusion proteins, have been discovered. Natural chimeric/fusion genes are new genes formed by natural fusion of two or more independent genes. Chimeric RNAs can be transcribed by natural chimeric genes, and can also be formed by cis-splicing or trans-splicing of two or more precursor mRNAs. Unlike fusion genes, the production of chimeric RNAs does not involve changes in the DNA level of chromosomes. At first, chimeric RNAs were found as tumor markers. With the deepening of research, researchers also found a large number of chimeric RNAs in normal tissues. From the perspective of biological function, chimeric RNAs can play a biological role in regulating the expression of corresponding maternal genes, translating into chimeric proteins, and forming long non-coding RNAs. The objective of the present study focused on the frontiers of chimeric RNA and reviewed its role in health and tumor study to reveal research progress of chimeric RNA and health and provide a new sight of relative disease treatment. The main conclusion of this review is that chimeric RNA may serve as a biomarker for specific tumor diagnose and treatment while its role in normal physiology needs to be revealed.