Preliminary evidence of different selection pressures on cancer cells as compared to normal tissues.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cancer is characterized by both a high mutation rate as well as high rates of cell division and cell death. We postulate that these conditions will result in the eventual mutational inactivation of genes not essential to the survival of the cancer cell, while mutations in essential genes will be eliminated by natural selection leaving molecular signatures of selection in genes required for survival and reproduction. By looking for signatures of natural selection in the genomes of cancer cells, it should therefore be possible to determine which genes have been essential for the development of a particular cancer.

Methods

We provide a proof of principle test of this idea by applying a test of neutrality (Nei-Gojobori Z-test of selection) to 139 cancer-related nucleo

SUBMITTER: Ovens K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3503577 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature