Aberrations of DNA damage in checkpoints in cancer

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

Mutations in gene products controlling DNA damage checkpoints and repair pathways cause predisposition to a large number of sporadic cancers, hereditary cancer syndromes, and developmental defects. This underscores the vital need for the fidelity of checkpoint control and efficiency for the repair machineries. The checkpoint functions are ensured by multiple, often parallel, pathways and show specificity regarding the nature of the damage, cell-cycle phase, and the subsequent cellular response. The checkpoint control mechanisms also link to other cellular responses such as apoptosis to initiate a death program in the event of unsuccesful repair. It is striking that several checkpoint mutations are associated with developmental abnormalities and cancer syndromes, such as the Nijmegen breakage syndrome and Fanconi anemia, indicating that the maintenance of the genome integrity is essential throughout development. Though several critical DNA maintenance proteins have been identified and their links to tumor progression have been established, alterations of several known checkpoint-associated proteins (e.g., 53BP1, Mdc1, SMC1) in cancer are still undiscovered. Knowledge of the DNA damage checkpoint pathways and pathways sensing the damage and instigating repair will pave the way to improved diagnostics, identification of genetic susceptibility, and, in future, rational therapy of cancer.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationApoptosis, Cell Signaling, and Human Diseases
PublisherHumana Press
Pages119-136
Number of pages18
Volume1
ISBN (Print)1588296776, 9781588296771
DOIs
StatePublished - 2007
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Checkpoint
  • DNA damage
  • H2AX
  • cell cycle
  • hereditary cancer syndrome
  • p53
  • repair

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine
  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

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