The roles of centrosome in cancer development

The accumulation of a series of genetic alterations involving the activation of proto-oncogenes and inactivation of tumor suppressor genes has long been regarded as a major driving force in carcinogenesis. Therefore, cancer is currently considered a genetic disease induced by DNA damage. However, the molecular etiology remains enigmatic. In recent years, the centrosome, together with the embedded centrioles and connecting filaments (or microtubules), has come to be regarded as the "brain" of a cell, being a key in maintaining genetic stability and in coordinating other cellular activities. Abnormalities in the centrosome and/or microtubules may result in unequal chromosome segregation leading to genetic alterations. Therefore, cancer is appropriately interpreted primarily as a "brain illness" of a cell rather than a genetic disease. We provide a brief overview of the latest advances in the understanding of the roles of the centrosome in cancer development, and then we discuss the mechanisms causing centrosome abnormalities and the implications for future research.