Chromosomal Aberrations in Cancer

Abstract

Overview The malignant cells of most patients who have leukemia, lymphoma, or a solid tumor have acquired clonal chromosomal abnormalities, the identification of which can aid in establishing the correct diagnosis and prognosis, and in the selection of therapy. Today, our arsenal of approaches to characterize an individual's malignant disease combines pathologic evaluation, cytogenetic analysis, and molecular studies. The advent of high‐throughput methods, such as next‐generation sequencing, capable of surveying the entire genome or large panels of cancer‐related genes presents new options for a revolutionary change in the way we diagnose, characterize, and treat cancer. The vision for the future entails an integrated molecular profile, i.e., chromosomal pattern, gene/miRNA expression, DNA methylation/epigenomic pattern, gene mutation status, pharmacogenomic profile, and chemosensitivity of each patient's tumor, as well as predisposition to disease, facilitating the development of an individualized treatment plan with decreased toxicities and prolonged survival.