Abstract

Abnormal chromosome content — also known as aneuploidy — is the most common characteristic of human solid tumours. It has therefore been proposed that aneuploidy contributes to, or even drives, tumour development. The mitotic checkpoint guards against chromosome mis-segregation by delaying cell-cycle progression through mitosis until all chromosomes have successfully made spindle-microtubule attachments. Defects in the mitotic checkpoint generate aneuploidy and might facilitate tumorigenesis, but more severe disabling of checkpoint signalling is a possible anticancer strategy.

Author affiliations

1. Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, Department of Medical Oncology, University Medical Center, Utrecht, 3584 CG, The Netherlands.
2. Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0670, USA.

Correspondence to: Geert J. P. L. Kops¹ Email: g.j.p.l.kops@med.uu.nl

Correspondence to: Don W. Cleveland² Email: dcleveland@ucsd.edu

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