Cancer genetics

Faulty mismatch repair has been finked to fieredi-tary nonpolyposis colon cancer (HNPCC), one of die most common inherited cancers. Genetic smdies finked HNPCC in some families to a region of cfiromosome 2. The gene located, designated hMSH2, was sub-sequendy shown to encode the human analog of the... 

The majority of people who smoke never develop lung cancer. Genetic risk factors may predispose certain smokers to lung cancer. After adjustments for age, smoke exposure, occupation, and gender, relatives of a lung cancer patient have approximately a twofold risk of developing lung cancer. The... 

Roy, K., et al. Chromosomal localization of the murine RFC-1 gene encoding a folate transporter and its amplification in an antifolate resistant variant overproducing the transporter. Cancer Genet. Cytogenet. 1998, 305, 29-38. 

H Joenje, AW Nieuwint, AB Oostra, F Arwert, H de Koning, KJ Roozendaal. Cancer Genet Cytogenet 25 37-45, 1987. 

Advances in measurement of gene expression have also been phenomenal. In five years, the numbers of genes, sensitivity of the assays, and reproducibility of results have also increased significantly as has the ability to analyze the data. The measurement of gene expression has been used in several ways in cancer genetics and cancer pharmacogenomics. Gene expression has led to better ways to classify cancers and to select the appropriate therapy (Miyazato et al., 2001 Birner et al., 2001). 

The National Cancer Institute provides a Cancer Genetics Services Directory, which lists professionals who provide services related to cancer genetics. You can search by type of cancer or syndrome, location, and/ or provider name at the following Web site http //cancer.gov/search/genetics services/. 

In order to function efficiently and to survive, a cell must adapt quickly to changing circumstances and to channel intermediates along pathways which are the most appropriate for the conditions at the time. The facility to increase or reduce the rate of an enzyme catalysed reaction is a crucial part of metabolic control and therefore the adaptability of metabolism as this allows optimal utilization of possibly scarce resources. In short, a cell must be able to control its metabolic activities in order to meet a challenge from the environment. Loss of biological or metabolic control is likely to be detrimental to the cell as is illustrated by certain abnormal conditions such as cancer, genetically determined inborn errors of metabolism or following the... 

Key words Target identification. Target validation. Drug target. Oncology, Cancer genetics... 

Familial adenomatous polyposis— An inherited disease of the colon in which many small growths develop in the colon and can turn into cancer. Genetic tests are available for this disease. 

Boonsong A, Marsh S, Rooney PH et al. Characterization of the topoisomerase 1 locus in human colorectal cancer. Cancer Genet Cytogenet 2000 121 56-60. 

Sandberg, A.A., (1983). A Chromosomal hypothesis of oncogenesis, Cancer Genet. Cytogenet. 8,277. 

Marx. M.P., Smith, S., Heyns, A.P van Tonder, I.Z. (1983) Fanconi s anemia a cytogenetic study on lymphocyte and bone marrow cultures utilizing l,2 3,4-diepoxybutane. Cancer Genet. Cytogenet., 9, 51-60... 

Molecular cytogeneticists in detecting chromosome aberrations in interphase cells (Interphase Cytogenetics, especially Cancer Genetics, 9-11), sex determination (12,13), and gene mapping by nonisotopic in situ hybridization (NISH, 14,15). 

Sun C, Hu Y, Liu X, Wu T, Wang Y, He W, Wei W. 2006. Resveratrol downregulates the constitutional activation of nuclear factor-kappaB in multiple myeloma cells, leading to suppression of proliferation and invasion, arrest of cell cycle, and induction of apoptosis. Cancer Genet Cytogenet 165 9-19. 

One of two levels of genetic instability correlates with the vast majority of cancers. In most cancers genetic instability is observed at the chromosome level, resulting in losses... 

Nowell, P. C. 1997. Genetic alterations in leukemias and lymphomas Impressive progress and continuing complexity. Cancer Genet. Cytogenet. 94 13-19. 

L3. Lampert, F., Harbott, J., Ritterbach, J., Schellong, G., Ritter, J., Creutzig, U., Riehm, H., and Reiter, A., Karyotypes in acute childhood leukemias may lose prognostic significance with more intensive and specific chemotherapy. Cancer Genet. Cytogenet. 54, 277-279 (1991). 

Sawyer, J. R., Waldron, J. A., Jagannath, S., and Barlogie, B., Cytogenetic findings in 200 patients with multiple myeloma. Cancer Genet. Cytogenet. 82, 41-49 (1995). 

CANCER GENETICS FROM BIOLOGY TO CLINICAL PRACTICE... 

FIGURE 1 Cancer genetics from biology to clinical practice. 

Current advances in gene technology constitute the required tool for rapid progress toward the knowledge of cancer genetics, what could lead to truly personalized medicine capable to impact on patients prognosis and quality of life. 

Popescu NC, Zimonjic DB. Molecular cytogenetic characterization of cancer cell alterations. Cancer Genet. Cytogenet. 1997 93 10-21. 

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