The genetic alteration spectrum of the SWI/SNF complex: The oncogenic roles of BRD9 and ACTL6A

SWItch/Sucrose NonFermentable (SWI/SNF) is a set of multi-subunits chromatin remodeling complexes, playing important roles in a variety of biological processes. Loss-of-function mutations in the genes encoding SWI/SNF subunits have been reported in more than 20% of human cancers. Thus, it was widely considered as a tumor suppressor in the past decade. However, recent studies reported that some genes encoding subunits of SWI/SNF complexes were amplified and play oncogenic roles in human cancers. In present study, we summarized the genetic alteration spectrum of SWI/SNF complexes, and firstly systematically estimated both the copy number variations and point mutations of all 30 genes encoding the subunits in this complex. Additionally, the bioinformatics analyses were performed for two significantly amplified genes, ACTL6A and BRD9, to investigate their oncogenic roles in human cancers. Our findings may lay a foundation for the discovery of potential treatment targets in SWI/SNF complexes of cancers.