Mechanisms driving cancer genome ‘layered complexity’

The symmetrical inheritance of chromosomes during cell division is essential for the survival of healthy daughter cells. Cancer cells often break this symmetry, resulting in dramatic changes of chromosome number and/or structure. Such changes enable rapid evolution that could lead to increased aggressiveness and to therapy resistance.

Our lab is studying the principles of chromosome biology in order to better understand how such catastrophic events occur, with specific emphasis on the mechanisms that control accurate chromosome segregation and that maintain chromosome stability. We aim to understand the ‘layered complexity’ of the cancer genome by examining how specific perturbations in such mechanisms add up to generate chaotic outcomes.