Relationship between gene positioning and chromosomal translocation in cancer / 肿瘤

ABSTRACT

Chromosomal translocations are very common in human cancer. The molecular mechanisms of chromosomal translocations are complex and unclear. Recent studies show that the organization of genomes is higher-order in the nucleus and every chromosome or chromatin has its preferential position and territory. Intermingling of chromosome territories in interphase maintains the transcriptional networks of genes. The spatial arrangements of chromosomes and gene loci in the interphase nucleus are responsible for nonrandom chromosomal translocations in human cancer. Chromosomal translocations are favored in neighbor chromosomes or genes in spatial proximity within the nucleus. These findings may lead to new approaches in early diagnosis and target therapy of cancer. © 2012 by Tumor.