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World J Gastroenterol. Dec 14, 2014; 20(46): 17305-17313
Published online Dec 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i46.17305
Alternative splicing of DNA damage response genes and gastrointestinal cancers
Bahityar Rahmutulla, Kazuyuki Matsushita, Fumio Nomura
Bahityar Rahmutulla, Kazuyuki Matsushita, Fumio Nomura, Department of Molecular Diagnosis, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba 260-8670, Japan
Kazuyuki Matsushita, Fumio Nomura, Division of Laboratory Medicine, Chiba University Hospital, Chiba 260-8670, Japan
Author contributions: Rahmutulla B wrote the manuscript; Matsushita K edited the manuscript; and Nomura F supervised the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Kazuyuki Matsushita, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Molecular Diagnosis, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan. kmatsu@faculty.chiba-u.jp
Telephone: +81-43-2262167 Fax: +81-43-2262169
Received: June 11, 2014
Revised: July 18, 2014
Accepted: September 12, 2014
Published online: December 14, 2014
Processing time: 190 Days and 6.7 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: Alternative splicing is a fundamental process of gene regulation in eukaryotes. Alternative splicing of DNA damage repair proteins is a significant cause of gene mutations, and those mutations in turn affect alternative splicing in cancer. Alternative splicing is associated with tumorigenesis by contributing to genetic instability. Therefore, alternative splicing of DNA damage response-related genes has an important role in tumorigenesis, survival, and growth of gastrointestinal cancers. In summary, the alternative splicing variants of these genes could be potential targets for both diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal cancers.