Initiation of telomere-mediated chromosomal rearrangements in cancer.
Telomeres are the ends of chromosomes and protect them from degradation and fusion. As such, their stability is required for normal cellular function. Telomere dysfunction is found often at the origin of cellular transformation and contributes to the onset of genomic instability, a hallmark of cancer cells. In this article, I discuss current data and concepts on telomere-mediated chromosomal rearrangements in cancer.
Mai
Sabine
S
Manitoba Institute of Cell Biology, CancerCare Manitoba, Department of Physiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada R3E 0V9. smai@cc.umanitoba.ca
D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000235:genetics; D042822:Genomic Instability / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D016615:Telomere / Q000235:genetics*