The constant repair of DNA damage is crucial for maintaining genomic stability in human cells. Dysregulation of such DNA repair pathways can lead to the persistence of DNA damage, the accumulations of oncogenic mutations, and uncontrolled growth, features desired by cancer cells. Understanding how DNA repair pathways are subverted in cancer is not only essential to deciphering the complexities of cancer biology, but it also holds therapeutic implications: it can lead to the development of novel therapies or optimization of existing treatments.
Targeted therapies, such as PARP inhibitors in BRCA-mutated cancers, underscore the therapeutic potential of inhibiting unfavored DNA repair mechanisms. Additionally, identifying individuals with genetic mutations in DNA repair-associated genes can aid in personalized cancer risk assessment and support informed treatment decisions. This knowledge can be instrumental in managing hereditary cancer syndromes and predicting patient responses to certain treatments, such as targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and radiotherapy.
In recognition of this relevant field, BMC Cancer has published this Collection, Altered DNA repair mechanism in tumorigenesis. We encouraged submissions addressing topics including but not limited to:
- Identification of novel DNA repair pathway mechanisms
- New insights into DNA repair mechanisms and their contribution to cancer replication stress
- Altered DNA repair mechanisms in cancer stem cells
- Novel DNA repair-associated gene mutations in hereditary cancer syndromes
- Interplay between genomic instability and DNA repair deficiencies in driving tumorigenesis
- DNA repair's involvement in chromosomal translocations and their relevance in cancer initiation and tumorigenesis
- Novel therapeutic approaches in targeting altered DNA repair pathways in cancer
- New insights into DNA damage response in the context of immune checkpoint inhibition
- Targeting DNA repair rescue pathways to improve radiotherapy sensitivity
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