Gene mapping in cancer

Observation of genetic alterations that appear consistently in specific types and stages of cancer provides a strong impetus to cancer geneticists to focus their investigations on the exploration of such volatile regions of the human genome. Introduction of powerful molecular cytogenetic and molecular genetic methods in recent years permits more detailed analysis, which will help researchers in their efforts to determine if such areas of the human genome have a functional role in the initiation and progressive development of leukemias and solid tumors. This discussion will focus on several provocative molecular cytogenetic tools that are currently available to localize potential cancer-associated genes and on how these methods are being used in conjunction with the current modes of analysis, including cytogenetics and somatic cell genetics. In addition, we will explore how these methods will help to isolate and dissect recently discovered cancer-associated genes within the human genome. All of these methods used in combination with each other will provide essential DNA markers for future diagnostic and prognostic evaluation of cancer.