The Role of NORAD in pediatric DSRCT
Description
Research into the function of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) is relatively new and as such, their function in the progression of cancer is correspondingly unknown. Of interest is the lncRNA Non-coding RNA activated by DNA damage (NORAD) and its role in the development and progression of the rare pediatric Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor (DSRCT). NORAD has been implicated in the maintenance of genomic integrity through its interactions with PUMILIO proteins. With the implementation of CRISPR/Cas9, a doxycycline inducible system is created in a modified plasmid created through homologous recombination (HR)-directed repair to produce a loss-of-function NORAD model. Induction of loss-of-function of NORAD seemingly results in a senescent state of JN-DSRCT cells which not only confirms the role of NORAD in maintaining genomic stability but provides a possible therapeutic avenue in the treatment of DSRCT. With this finding new insight and queries arise in the role of NORAD and its relationship with DSRCT.