Homologous Recombination and Its Role in Carcinogenesis

[摘要] Cancer develops when cells no longer follow their normal patternof controlled growth. In the absence or disregard of suchregulation, resulting from changes in their genetic makeup, theseerrant cells acquire a growth advantage, expanding intoprecancerous clones. Over the last decade, many studies haverevealed the relevance of genomic mutation in this process, be itby misreplication, environmental damage, or a deficiency inrepairing endogenous and exogenous damage. Here, we discusshomologous recombination as another mechanism that can result ina loss of heterozygosity or genetic rearrangements. Some of thesegenetic alterations may play a primary role in carcinogenesis, butthey are more likely to be involved in secondary and subsequentsteps of carcinogenesis by which recessive oncogenic mutations arerevealed. Patients, whose cells display an increased frequency ofrecombination, also have an elevated frequency of cancer, furthersupporting the link between recombination and carcinogenesis.

[学科分类] 基础医学