Cancer LncRNA Census reveals evidence for deep functional conservation of long noncoding RNAs in tumorigenesis

PCAWG Drivers and Functional Interpretation Group, Boris J Winterhoff

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

147 Scopus citations

Abstract

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a growing focus of cancer genomics studies, creating the need for a resource of lncRNAs with validated cancer roles. Furthermore, it remains debated whether mutated lncRNAs can drive tumorigenesis, and whether such functions could be conserved during evolution. Here, as part of the ICGC/TCGA Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes (PCAWG) Consortium, we introduce the Cancer LncRNA Census (CLC), a compilation of 122 GENCODE lncRNAs with causal roles in cancer phenotypes. In contrast to existing databases, CLC requires strong functional or genetic evidence. CLC genes are enriched amongst driver genes predicted from somatic mutations, and display characteristic genomic features. Strikingly, CLC genes are enriched for driver mutations from unbiased, genome-wide transposon-mutagenesis screens in mice. We identified 10 tumour-causing mutations in orthologues of 8 lncRNAs, including LINC-PINT and NEAT1, but not MALAT1. Thus CLC represents a dataset of high-confidence cancer lncRNAs. Mutagenesis maps are a novel means for identifying deeply-conserved roles of lncRNAs in tumorigenesis.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)56
JournalCommunications biology
Volume3
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 5 2020

Keywords

  • Animals
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • CRISPR-Cas Systems
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/genetics
  • Databases, Genetic
  • Disease Susceptibility
  • Evolution, Molecular
  • Genome, Human
  • Genomics/methods
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms/genetics
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • RNA, Long Noncoding

PubMed: MeSH publication types

  • Journal Article
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

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