Noncoding SNP rs17728461 modulates lung cancer progression via interchromosomal regulation of RAB27A expression
摘要
Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have revealed the lung cancer susceptibility-associated non-coding SNP rs17728461 C/G. In this study, we demonstrated that rs17728461 is also associated with lung cancer outcome. The risk G allele increases the proliferative index and motility of cancer cells and promotes cancer metastasis in vivo in a xenograft mouse model. Mechanistically, rs17728461-G establishes a physical interchromosomal interaction between the rs17728461-bearing DNA fragment and the RAB27A gene locus and thereby increases RAB27A expression and promotes subsequent exosome secretion. eQTL analysis and immunostaining revealed an association between rs17728461-G and increased RAB27A expression in human lung cancers. These findings reveal a noncoding SNP-mediated interchromosomal regulatory mechanism underlying lung cancer progression.