Chimeric RNA ASTN2-PAPPA as aggravates tumor progression and metastasis in human esophageal cancer.

Transcription-induced chimeric RNAs are an emerging area of research into molecular signatures for disease biomarker and therapeutic target development. Despite their importance, little is known for chimeric RNAs-relevant roles and the underlying mechanisms for cancer pathogenesis and progression. Here we describe a unique ASTN2-PAPPA _antisense chimeric RNA (A-P _as chiRNA) that could be the first reported chimeric RNA derived from the splicing of exons and intron antisense of two neighboring genes, respectively. Aberrant A-P _as chiRNA level in ESCC tissues was associated with tumor progression and patients' outcome. In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that A-P _as chiRNA aggravated ESCC metastasis and enhanced stemness through modulating OCT4. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that ERK5-mediated non-canonical PAF1 activity was required for A-P _as chiRNA-induced cancer malignancy. The study defined an undocumented function of chimeric RNAs in aggravating cancer stemness and metastasis.
(Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)