# Targeting RNA Splicing in Glioma

> **NIH NIH R01** · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · 2023 · $490,568

## Abstract

Targeting RNA Splicing in Glioma
 RNA alternative splicing (AS) is an evolutionally conserved co-transcriptional process, regulates
transcriptome and proteome landscapes in eukaryotes, and in human diseases such as cancer. Unlike the
numerous studies that have been conducted for characterizing glioma genomes, transcriptomes,
methylomes, and proteomes, little has been done to associate glioma driver mutations with AS programs
and evaluate the impact of dysregulated AS on cancer malignancy. Our analyses of AS in three glioma
patient RNA-seq datasets indicate two AS glioma subtypes that show associations with WHO tumor grade,
glioma driver mutations, and patient prognosis. Utilizing a human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-
derived glioma “avatar” model and clinical glioma models, we show that IDH1R132H/WT or PTEN-/-
/CDKN2A/2B-/-/TertpC228T/WT/EGFRvIII genotypes influence subtype-associated AS programs. Two subsets
of RBPs that affect RNA splicing are differentially associated with these two AS glioma subtypes.
Expression of subtype-associated RBPs or AS isoforms also affected AS events and growth of glioma
stem-like cells (GSCs). In this research project, we plan to leverage our previous contributions, existing
research program, recent findings, newly established glioma avatar models, cutting-edge CRISPR editing
technology, and outstanding scientific premise to study whether glioma mutations influence AS programs
and how RNA binding proteins (RBPs) and AS gene isoforms contribute to glioma tumor biology. AS
programs will also be exploited for therapeutic intervention in treating gliomas. This project will address
key gaps in our understanding of the relationships between glioma driver mutations and tumor-associated
AS programs, and test whether targeting RNA splicing constitutes a therapeutic vulnerability to treat
gliomas. In addressing these knowledge gaps this research will influence our understanding and treatment
of glioma, and in so doing will likely influence the study of other cancers.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10653239
- **Project number:** 5R01NS125318-02
- **Recipient organization:** NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Shi-Yuan Cheng
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $490,568
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-07-01 → 2027-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10653239

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10653239, Targeting RNA Splicing in Glioma (5R01NS125318-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10653239. Licensed CC0.

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