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Chromosomal abnormalities and tumor development: from genes to therapeutic mechanisms
Author(s) -
Cobaleda C.,
PérezLosada J.,
SánchezGarcía I.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
bioessays
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.175
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1521-1878
pISSN - 0265-9247
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1521-1878(199811)20:11<922::aid-bies7>3.0.co;2-o
Subject(s) - chromosomal translocation , biology , gene , function (biology) , fusion gene , cancer , fusion protein , cancer research , genetics , computational biology , recombinant dna
This article highlights the recent advances in our understanding of the molecular structure and function of proteins that are activated or created by chromosomal abnormalities and discusses their possible role in tumor development. The molecular characterization of these proteins has revealed that tumor‐specific fusion proteins are the consequence of the majority of chromosomal translocations associated with leukemias and solid tumors. A common theme that emerges is that creation of these proteins disrupts the normal development of tumor‐specific target cells by blocking apoptosis. These insights identify these chromosomal translocation‐associated genes as potential targets for improved cancer therapies. BioEssays 20:922–930, 1998. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.