Characterization of Chromosomal Instability and its Effect on Radiation Sensitivity in Head and Neck Cancer

Chromosomal instability (CIN), an ongoing rate of chromosome missegregation events over the course of multiple cell divisions, is common in cancer. Low CIN can be weakly tumor promoting while high CIN causes rapid cell death due to loss of both copies of one or more essential chromosomes. Combining two independent insults that each cause low CIN results in high CIN, which leads to cell death and tumor suppression. Because radiation causes CIN, we hypothesize that pre-existing CIN, which has not been well characterized in head and neck cancer (HNC) and can be caused by human papilloma virus (HPV), sensitizes HNC cells to radiation therapy.
Source: International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics - Category: Radiology Authors: Tags: Molecular Biology and Therapeutics Source Type: research