Chromosomal instability and human cancer.
Genetic instability is a defining feature of human cancer. The main type of genetic instability, chromosomal instability (CIN), enhances the rate of gross chromosomal changes during cell division. CIN is brought about by mutations of CIN genes, i.e. genes that are involved in maintaining the genomic integrity of the cell. A major question in cancer genetics is whether genetic instability is a cause and hence a driving force of tumorigenesis. A mathematical framework for studying the somatic evolution of cancer sheds light onto the causal relations between CIN and human cancer.
Michor
Franziska
F
Program for Evolutionary Dynamics, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge MA 02138, USA. michor@fas.harvard.edu
D043171:Chromosomal Instability / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics