Aneuploidy has long been associated with genetic instability and tumorigenesis. Dewhurst et al. examined the evolution and consequences of chromosomal aberrations using long-term culture of a diploid colon cancer progenitor cell line. Tetraploids — rare cells that survive genome doubling — have a greater tolerance for further chromosomal abnormalities. Furthermore, tetraploidy was associated with a low probability of disease-free survival.
References
Dewhurst, S. M. et al. Tolerance of whole-genome doubling propagates chromosomal instability and accelerates cancer genome evolution. Cancer Discov. 4, 175–185 (2014)
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Lokody, I. Tetraploidy tolerance promotes cancer evolution. Nat Rev Cancer 14, 157 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrc3692
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrc3692