Cancer and Genetic Instability
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Bruce McKay – Biology
Sunnyside Branch of the Ottawa Public Library at 1049 Bank Street
Cancer is a group of diseases characterized by uncontrolled cell growth, invasion and other traits that are collectively known as the hallmarks of cancer. Normal cells acquire these neoplastic traits through the acquisition of mutations in key oncogenes and tumour suppressors. Genetic instability plays a prominent role in cancer. First, genetic instability increases the chance of accumulating cancer mutations. Many therapeutic approaches target the genetic instability of tumour cells. Unfortunately, the genetic heterogeneity found in genetically unstable tumours poses a challenge for cancer treatment. The various implications of genetic instability in carcinogenesis and cancer therapy will be discussed.
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