title: gamma-H2AX: Can it be established as a classical cancer prognostic factor?
abstract: Double-strand breaks are among the first procedures taking place in cancer formation and progression as a result of endogenic and exogenic factors. The histone variant H2AX undergoes phosphorylation at serine 139 due to double-strand breaks, and the gamma-H2AX is formatted as a result of genomic instability. The detection of gamma-H2AX can potentially serve as a biomarker for transformation of normal tissue to premalignant and consequently to malignant tissues. gamma-H2AX has already been investigated in a variety of cancer types, including breast, lung, colon, cervix, and ovary cancers. The prognostic value of gamma-H2AX is indicated in certain cancer types, such as breast or endometrial cancer, but further investigation is needed to establish gamma-H2AX as a prognostic marker. This review outlines the role of gamma-H2AX in cell cycle, and its formation as a result of DNA damage. We investigate the role of gamma-H2AX formation in several cancer types and its correlation with other prognostic factors, and we try to find out whether it fulfills the requirements for its establishment as a classical cancer prognostic factor.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Diakonie-Klinikum Schwäbisch Hall, Schwäbisch Hall, Germany.
authors.forename: Viktoria-Varvara
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Palla
authors.affiliation: 2 1st Department of Surgery, Vascular Unit, Laiko General Hospital, Medical School of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Karaolanis
authors.affiliation: 3 1st University Urology Clinic, Laiko Hospital, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Katafigiotis
authors.affiliation: 3 1st University Urology Clinic, Laiko Hospital, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Anastasiou
authors.affiliation: 4 3rd Department of Surgery, Attikon General Hospital, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Patapis
authors.affiliation: 5 2nd Department of Surgery, Laiko Hospital, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dimitroulis
authors.affiliation: 5 2nd Department of Surgery, Laiko Hospital, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Despoina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Perrea
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics*; D053903:DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000235:genetics; D004260:DNA Repair / Q000235:genetics; D042822:Genomic Instability; D006657:Histones / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C468783:H2AX protein, human; D006657:Histones
keywords: DNA damage; cancer; gamma-H2AX; histone; prognosis