The concept of synthetic lethality in the context of anticancer therapy
WG Kaelin Jr - Nature reviews cancer, 2005 - nature.com
WG Kaelin Jr
Nature reviews cancer, 2005•nature.comTwo genes are synthetic lethal if mutation of either alone is compatible with viability but
mutation of both leads to death. So, targeting a gene that is synthetic lethal to a cancer-
relevant mutation should kill only cancer cells and spare normal cells. Synthetic lethality
therefore provides a conceptual framework for the development of cancer-specific cytotoxic
agents. This paradigm has not been exploited in the past because there were no robust
methods for systematically identifying synthetic lethal genes. This is changing as a result of …
mutation of both leads to death. So, targeting a gene that is synthetic lethal to a cancer-
relevant mutation should kill only cancer cells and spare normal cells. Synthetic lethality
therefore provides a conceptual framework for the development of cancer-specific cytotoxic
agents. This paradigm has not been exploited in the past because there were no robust
methods for systematically identifying synthetic lethal genes. This is changing as a result of …
Abstract
Two genes are synthetic lethal if mutation of either alone is compatible with viability but mutation of both leads to death. So, targeting a gene that is synthetic lethal to a cancer-relevant mutation should kill only cancer cells and spare normal cells. Synthetic lethality therefore provides a conceptual framework for the development of cancer-specific cytotoxic agents. This paradigm has not been exploited in the past because there were no robust methods for systematically identifying synthetic lethal genes. This is changing as a result of the increased availability of chemical and genetic tools for perturbing gene function in somatic cells.
nature.com