What are the Mechanisms Behind Genetic Instability?
Several mechanisms contribute to genetic instability in cancer:
1. DNA Repair Deficiency: Defects in DNA repair pathways, such as mismatch repair (MMR) and homologous recombination (HR), can lead to the accumulation of mutations. 2. Telomere Dysfunction: Shortened telomeres can result in chromosomal instability and end-to-end chromosome fusions. 3. Replication Stress: Errors during DNA replication can cause mutations and chromosomal abnormalities. 4. Mitotic Errors: Faulty mitosis can result in aneuploidy, where cells have an abnormal number of chromosomes.
