Genomic instability in cancer: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potentials.

DNA damage usually happens in all cell types, which may originate from endogenous sources, (i.e., DNA replication errors) or be emanated from radiations or chemicals. These damages range from changes in few nucleotides to large structural abnormalities on chromosomes and, if not repaired, could disturb the cellular homeostasis or cause cell death. DNA repair, as the most significant response to DNA damage, provides biological pathways by which DNA damages are corrected and returned into their natural circumstance. However, aberration in the DNA repair mechanisms may result in genomic and chromosomal instability and the accumulation of mutations. The activation of oncogenes and/or inactivation of tumor suppressor genes are serious consequence of genomic and chromosomal instability and may bring the cells into a cancerous phenotype. Therefore, genomic and chromosomal instability is usually considered as a crucial factor in the carcinogenesis and an important hallmark of various human malignancies. In the present study, we review our current understanding of the most updated mechanisms underlying genomic instability in cancer and discuss about the potential promises of these mechanisms in finding new targets for the treatment of cancer. Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.