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Dividing with Extra Centrosomes: A Double Edged Sword for Cancer Cells
Alexander D Rhys1, Susana A Godinho2
1Centre for Molecular Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, EC1M 6BQ, London, UK.
Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
|June 11, 2017
Summary
Supernumerary centrosomes accelerate human tumour growth by promoting instability and invasion. Cells adapt to extra centrosomes, offering potential targets for selective cancer therapies.
Area of Science:
- Cell biology
- Cancer research
- Genetics
Background:
- Supernumerary centrosomes are common in human tumors.
- Extra centrosomes can accelerate tumor development, especially when p53 is absent.
- Centrosome amplification contributes to chromosomal instability, tissue disruption, and cancer cell invasion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review adaptation mechanisms enabling cell proliferation with extra centrosomes.
- To explore how these adaptations can be leveraged for targeted cancer treatments.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on centrosome amplification in cancer.
- Analysis of cellular adaptation strategies to supernumerary centrosomes.
- Exploration of therapeutic vulnerabilities associated with centrosome amplification.
Main Results:
- Cells possess mechanisms to tolerate and divide with extra centrosomes.
- These adaptations are crucial for proliferation despite centrosome amplification.
- Understanding these mechanisms is key to developing novel cancer therapies.
Conclusions:
- Centrosome amplification is an active driver of cancer progression.
- Cellular adaptations to extra centrosomes present therapeutic opportunities.
- Targeting these adaptations could lead to selective cancer treatments.
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