Double-strand breaks and tumorigenesis

The establishment of connections between biochemical defects and clinical d isease is a major goal of modern molecular genetics. In this review, we exa mine the current literature that relates defects in the two major DNA doubl e-strand-break repair pathways - homologous recombination and nonhomologous end-joining - with the development of human tumors. Although definitive pr oof has yet to be obtained, the current literature is highly suggestive of such a link.