Disruption of the Fanconi anemia/BRCA pathway in sporadic cancer

Cancer Lett. 2006 Jan 28;232(1):99-106. doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2005.07.038. Epub 2005 Oct 21.

Abstract

An increasing number of studies provide evidences linking disruption of Fanconi anemia/BRCA cascade with sporadic cancers. Given that this pathway plays essential roles in response to the DNA interstrand cross-links, these cancers are expected to be chemosensitive to cross-link based therapy. In the present mini-review we expand the spectrum of possibilities for FA/BRCA disruption and review some works describing functional upstream and downstream events linking disruption of the FA/BRCA pathway to sporadic cancer. This may involve but not limited to epigenetic silencing of the FA-core complex or BRCA1/2, mutations of one or several FA-BRCA genes or modification of encoded products. All this may serve as a platform for occurrence, development and treatment of sporadic cancers and therefore deserves to be in the focus of new research directions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Chromosome Aberrations
  • Fanconi Anemia Complementation Group F Protein / genetics*
  • Gene Silencing
  • Genes, BRCA1*
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • FANCF protein, human
  • Fanconi Anemia Complementation Group F Protein