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Meng et al. J Cancer Metastasis Treat 2019;5:21 Journal of Cancer
DOI: 10.20517/2394-4722.2018.96 Metastasis and Treatment

Review Open Access

Contribution of alternative splicing to breast cancer
metastasis

Xiangbing Meng , Shujie Yang , Jun Zhang , Huimin Yu 1,4
1,2
1,2
2,3
1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
2 Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
3 Division of Hematology, Oncology and Blood & Marrow Transplantation, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa
Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
4 Department of Pathogenic Biology, Shenzhen University School of medicine, Shenzhen 518060,China.

Correspondence to: Dr. Xiangbing Meng, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Iowa, 375 Newton Road,
Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. E-mail: xiangbing-meng@uiowa.edu

How to cite this article: Meng X, Yang S, Zhang J, Yu H. Contribution of alternative splicing to breast cancer metastasis. J Cancer
Metastasis Treat 2019;5:21. http://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2394-4722.2018.96

Received: 10 Dec 2018 Accepted: 25 Jan 2019 Published: 22 Mar 2019

Science Editor: William P. Schiemann Copy Editor: Cai-Hong Wang Production Editor: Huan-Liang Wu

Abstract
Alternative splicing is a major contributor to transcriptome and proteome diversity in eukaryotes. Comparing to
normal samples, about 30% more alternative splicing events were recently identified in 32 cancer types included
in The Cancer Genome Atlas database. Some alternative splicing isoforms and their encoded proteins contribute to
specific cancer hallmarks. In this review, we will discuss recent progress regarding the contributions of alternative
splicing to breast cancer metastasis. We plan to dissect the role of MTDH, CD44 and their interaction with other
mRNA splicing factors. We believe an in-depth understanding of the mechanism underlying the contribution of
splicing to breast cancer metastasis will provide novel strategies to the management of breast cancer.

Keywords: Breast cancer, metastasis, CD44, MTDH, splicing, epithelial-mesenchymal transition

INTRODUCTION
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women. Despite emerging new treatments such
[1,2]
as PARP inhibition and immune checkpoint blockade, it remains a major challenge and is the primary
cause of cancer mortality in women. In the majority of cases, the death from breast cancer is not due to the
[3]
primary tumor per se, but rather the result of metastasis to other organs in the body . Metastasis is a multi-
step process involving stromal invasion, cell migration, intravasation, anoikis resistance, extravasation and

© The Author(s) 2019. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
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