Cancer Science & Therapy

DNA Damage and Repair in Cancer Therapy

Abstract

López-González A, Ibeas Millán P and Provencio M

Most cancer therapies have their main mechanism of action DNA damage. Tumor cells have several ways to respond to this DNA damage: removal of the damaged area and reconstruction of the strand of DNA, activation of DNA damage checkpoint, changes in transcription profile of benefit to the cell and apoptosis in the case in which the DNA is seriously damaged. We summarize in this article the most important cellular responses to DNA damage caused by chemotherapy.

Bcl-2 family, other than in the follicular B-cell lymphoma, is involved in a number of cancers, including melanoma and breast carcinoma, prostate and lung. Its expression was associated with good prognosis in non-small-cell lung cancer. Cytotoxicity of many chemotherapeutic agents is induced through the Bcl-2 apoptotic pathway; overexpression of BCL2 is associated with increased resistance to these agents.