The cancer biology of whole-chromosome instability

One form of chromosome instability (CIN), the recurrent missegregation of whole chromosomes during cell division (W-CIN), leads to aneuploidy. Although W-CIN is a hallmark of most cancers, mutations in genes involved in chromosome segregation are exceedingly rare. We discuss an oncogene-induced mitotic stress model that provides a mechanistic framework to explain this paradox. We also review the tumor-promoting and tumor-suppressing consequences...