Germ line polymorphism in metastatic progression
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 13, 2026

Experimental Metastasis Assay
Published on: August 24, 2010
Kent W Hunter1, Nigel P Crawford
1Laboratory of Population Genetics, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute/NIH, Building 41 Room D702, 41 Library Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. hunterk@mail.nih.gov
Abstract:
Somatic genetic analysis of tumors and metastases has yielded a plethora of information regarding genes associated with cancer progression. However, somatic alterations in tumor cells are only one source of variability. Genetic polymorphism may also play a significant role in person-to-person variability in metastasis frequency, raising the intriguing possibility that some individuals could be predisposed to secondary tumor development. The identification and characterization of these polymorphisms may have significant implications for the development of tailored treatment or prevention of recurrent disease.
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