Clinical and Mechanistic Implications of R-Loops in Human Leukemias

Abstract

Genetic mutations or environmental agents are major contributors to leukemia and are associated with genomic instability. R-loops are three-stranded nucleic acid structures consisting of an RNA–DNA hybrid and a non-template single-stranded DNA. These structures regulate various cellular processes, including transcription, replication, and DSB repair. However, unregulated R-loop formation can cause DNA damage and genomic instability, which are potential drivers of cancer including leukemia. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of aberrant R-loop formation and how it influences genomic instability and leukemia development. We also consider the possibility of R-loops as therapeutic targets for cancer treatment.