The complex nature of fragile site plasticity and its importance in cancer

Dan Sarni; Batsheva Kerem

doi:10.1016/j.ceb.2016.03.017

The complex nature of fragile site plasticity and its importance in cancer

Curr Opin Cell Biol. 2016 Jun:40:131-136. doi: 10.1016/j.ceb.2016.03.017. Epub 2016 Apr 7.

Authors

Dan Sarni¹, Batsheva Kerem²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Genetics, The Life Sciences Institute, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91904, Israel.
² Department of Genetics, The Life Sciences Institute, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91904, Israel. Electronic address: batshevak@savion.huji.ac.il.

PMID: 27062332
DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2016.03.017

Abstract

Common fragile sites (CFSs) are chromosomal regions characterized as hotspots for breakage and chromosomal rearrangements following DNA replication stress. They are preferentially unstable in pre-cancerous lesions and during cancer development. Recently CFSs were found to be tissue- and even oncogene-induced specific, thus indicating an unforeseen complexity. Here we review recent developments in CFS research that shed new light on the molecular basis of their instability and their importance in cancer development.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Chromosome Fragile Sites*
DNA Replication
Genomic Instability
Humans
Neoplasms / genetics*
Neoplasms / pathology
Oncogenes