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Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell

Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell

Cancer arises from mutations in the critical genes that allow healthy cells to escape cell cycle regulation and acquire the ability to proliferate indefinitely. Though originating from a single mutation event in one of the originator cells, cancer progresses when the mutant cell lines continue to gain more and more mutations, and finally, become malignant. For example, chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) develops initially as a non-lethal increase in white blood cells, which progressively...

Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell

Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell

Cancer arises from mutations in the critical genes that allow healthy cells to escape cell cycle regulation and acquire the ability to proliferate indefinitely. Though originating from a single mutation event in one of the originator cells, cancer progresses when the mutant cell lines continue to gain more and more mutations, and finally, become malignant. For example, chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) develops initially as a non-lethal increase in white blood cells, which progressively...

Interactions Between Signaling Pathways

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Signaling cascades usually lack linearity. Multiple pathways interact and regulate one another, allowing cells to integrate and respond to diverse environmental stimuli.
Convergence and divergence, and cross-talk between signaling pathways
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Tumor Progression

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Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Comparative Lesions Analysis Through a Targeted Sequencing Approach

Comparative Lesions Analysis Through a Targeted Sequencing Approach

Published on: November 5, 2019

Diverse somatic mutation patterns and pathway alterations in human cancers.

Zhengyan Kan¹, Bijay S Jaiswal, Jeremy Stinson

¹Department of Molecular Biology, Genentech Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, USA.

|July 30, 2010

Summary

This study identified 2,576 somatic mutations in 1,507 genes across 441 cancer tumors. Key mutated genes, including GNAS and MAP2K4, offer potential targets for novel cancer therapeutics.

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Next Generation Sequencing for the Detection of Actionable Mutations in Solid and Liquid Tumors

Next Generation Sequencing for the Detection of Actionable Mutations in Solid and Liquid Tumors

Published on: September 20, 2016

Area of Science:

Genomics
Cancer Biology
Molecular Oncology

Background:

Somatic mutations in cancer genomes are crucial for understanding disease mechanisms.
Developing targeted therapeutics requires comprehensive genomic characterization.

Purpose of the Study:

To systematically identify and characterize somatic mutations across major human cancer types.
To discover novel druggable targets for cancer therapy.

Main Methods:

Whole-genome sequencing of 441 tumors (breast, lung, ovarian, prostate).
Identification and statistical analysis of somatic mutations and copy number alterations.
Functional studies of key mutated genes (GNAO1, MAP2K4).

Main Results:

Identified 2,576 somatic mutations in 1,507 coding genes.
Found significant variations in mutation rates and gene sets across tumor types/subtypes.
Discovered 77 significantly mutated genes (e.g., GRM8, BAI3, AGTRL1, LPHN3) and 35 additional altered genes (e.g., GNAS).
Demonstrated functional roles of mutant GNAO1 and MAP2K4 in oncogenesis.

Conclusions:

The mutational landscape of human cancers is diverse and subtype-specific.
Identified numerous potential therapeutic targets, including G-protein-coupled receptors and signaling pathway components.
Highlights the expanded role of G-alpha subunits in cancer development.