What Is the Impact of Chromosomal Translocations in Cancer?
Chromosomal translocations involve the rearrangement of parts between non-homologous chromosomes. These can create fusion genes that encode for oncogenic proteins. A well-known example is the Philadelphia chromosome, which results from a translocation between chromosomes 9 and 22, leading to the formation of the BCR-ABL fusion protein in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). This discovery has led to targeted therapies such as imatinib.