Frameshifts may carry oncogenic potential beyond loss of function and categorize genes role in tumor development

Abstract

In this work I present evidence that frameshift mutations represent substantial oncogenic potential across multiple tumor types and may change our understanding of the function of some genes with well established tumor suppressor. I analyzed data deposited in Cbio portal and show that frameshifts, even when they result in the removal of a substantial part of a protein have the potential to create recurring large domains with unknown function. Based on this analysis I propose a novel categorization of genes according to their association with cancer that is more reflective of a complex nature that goes beyond the simple division to tumor suppressors and oncogenes.