Open AccessDNA repair pathways and their therapeutic potential in lung cancer
Author(s) -
Joshua T. Burgess,
Laura V. Croft,
Nathan C. Wallace,
SallyAnne Stephenson,
Mark N. Adams,
Nicholas W. Ashton,
Benjamin J. Solomon,
K.J. O’Byrne,
Derek J. Richard
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
lung cancer management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1758-1974
pISSN - 1758-1966
DOI - 10.2217/lmt.14.12
Subject(s) - lung cancer , medicine , dna repair , cancer , disease , bioinformatics , dna damage , cancer research , oncology , biology , pathology , genetics , gene , dna
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality. According to WHO, 1.37 million deaths occur globally each year as a result of this disease. More than 70% of these cases are associated with prior tobacco consumption and/or cigarette smoking, suggesting a direct causal relationship. The development and progression of lung cancer and other malignancies involves the loss of genetic stability, resulting in acquisition of cumulative genetic changes; this affords the cell increased malignant potential. As such, an understanding of the mechanisms through which these events may occur will potentially allow for development of new anticancer therapies. This review will address the association between lung cancer and genetic instability, with a central focus on genetic mutations in the DNA damage repair pathways. In addition, we will discuss the potential clinical exploitation of these pathways, both in terms of biomarker staging, as well as through direct therapeutic targeting