Cancer is fundamentally a disease of genetic mutations and genome instability. DNA polymerases play a crucial role in maintaining genomic integrity. When these enzymes malfunction due to mutations or external factors, errors in DNA replication can occur, leading to mutations that may contribute to the development of cancer. For instance, DNA polymerase delta (Pol δ) and DNA polymerase epsilon (Pol ε) are involved in replicative DNA synthesis and their mutations have been implicated in various cancers, including colorectal and endometrial cancers.
