Cancer cells exploit an orphan RNA to drive metastatic progression

In this study we performed a systematic search to identify breast cancer-specific small non-coding RNAs, which we have collectively termed orphan non-coding RNAs (oncRNAs). We subsequently discovered that one of these oncRNAs, which originates from the 3’ end of TERC, acts as a regulator of gene expression and is a robust promoter of breast cancer metastasis. This oncRNA, which we have named T3p, exerts its pro-metastatic effects by acting as an inhibitor of RISC complex activity and increasing the expression of the pro-metastatic genes NUPR1 and PANX2. Furthermore, we have shown that oncRNAs are present in cancer cell-derived extracellular vesicles, raising the possibility that these circulating oncRNAs may also play a role in non-cell autonomous disease pathogenesis. Additionally, these circulating oncRNAs present a novel avenue for cancer fingerprinting using liquid biopsies.