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Shattered and stitched chromosomes—chromothripsis and chromoanasynthesis—manifestations of a new chromosome crisis?
Author(s) -
Righolt Christiaan,
Mai Sabine
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
genes, chromosomes and cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.754
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1098-2264
pISSN - 1045-2257
DOI - 10.1002/gcc.21981
Subject(s) - chromothripsis , chromosome , biology , chromosomal rearrangement , genetics , event (particle physics) , evolutionary biology , karyotype , gene , dna , genome instability , physics , dna damage , quantum mechanics
Chromothripsis (chromosome shattering) has been described as complex rearrangements affecting single chromosome(s) in one catastrophic event. The chromosomes would be “shattered” and “stitched together” during this event. This phenomenon is proposed to constitute the basis for complex chromosomal rearrangements seen in 2‐3% of all cancers and in ∼ 25% of bone cancers. Here we discuss chromothripsis, the use of this term and the evidence presented to support a single catastrophic event that remodels the genome in one step. We discuss why care should be taken in using the term chromothripsis and what evidence is lacking to support its use while describing complex rearrangements. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.