Genomic Alterations of Non-Coding Regions Underlie Human Cancer: Lessons from T-ALL

Abstract

It has been appreciated for decades that somatic genomic alterations that change coding sequences of proto-oncogenes, translocate enhancers/promoters near proto-oncogenes, or create fusion oncogenes can drive cancer by inducing oncogenic activities. An explosion of genome-wide technologies over the past decade has fueled discoveries of the roles of three-dimensional chromosome structure and powerful cis-acting elements (super-enhancers) in regulating gene transcription. In recent years, studies of human T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) using genome-wide technologies have provided paradigms for how non-coding genomic region alterations can disrupt 3D chromosome architecture or establish super-enhancers to activate oncogenic transcription of proto-oncogenes. These studies raise important issues to consider with the objective of leveraging basic knowledge into new diagnostic and therapeutic opportunities for cancer patients.