Alternative splicing is a key step in the gene expression process as it allows the synthesis of different products from the same gene. Alternative splicing is the main step contributing to increasing the complexity of the proteome coded by a limited number of genes and is a promising step forward in basic and translational molecular oncology. However, modification of alternative splicing is among the myriad of alterations present in cancer cells, and whether splicing alteration is a cause or an effect of cancer remains to be elucidated.

The main focus of this special issue will be on the mechanisms involved in splicing alteration in cancer and on new proofs of the involvement of alteration of alternative splicing in different steps and aspects of cancer initiation and progression. Moreover, papers dealing with new cancer therapeutic targets and strategies relying on splicing would be of great interest. Main topics include, but are not limited to:

• Genetics
• Large-scale analysis of alternative splicing
• Alternative promoters and polyadenylation sites
• Trans-splicing
• Functions of splicing isoforms
• Splicing alterations of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes
• Splicing factors as multifunctional proteins
• Mechanisms of splicing alteration
• Splicing factor expression
• Signaling pathways and oncoproteins/oncosuppressors affecting alternative splicing
• Coupling transcription and splicing
• Therapeutic targets and strategies relying on splicing