Genetic recombination systems are present in all living cells and viru
ses and generally contribute to their hosts' flexibility with respect
to changing environmental conditions. Recombination systems not only h
elp highly developed organisms to protect themselves from microbial at
tack via an elaborate immune system, but conversely, recombination sys
tems also enable microorganisms to escape from such an immune system.
Recombination enzymes act with a high specificity on DNA sequences tha
t either exhibit extended stretches of homology or contain characteris
tic signal sequences. However, recombination enzymes may rarely act on
incorrect alternative target sequences, which may result in the forma
tion of chromosomal deletions, inversions, translocations, or amplific
ations of defined DNA regions. This review describes the characteristi
cs of several recombination systems and focuses on the implication of
aberrant recombination in carcinogenesis. The consequences of mitotic
recombination on the inappropriate activation of protooncogenes and on
the loss of tumor suppressor genes is discussed. Cases are reported w
here mitotic recombination clearly has been associated with carcinogen
esis in rodents as well as humans. Several test systems able to detect
recombinagenic activities of chemical compounds are described.