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Modifier Loci

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Encyclopedia of Cancer

  • 22 Accesses

Synonyms

Genetic polymorphisms; Genetic predisposition; Quantitative trait loci; Susceptibility loci

Definition

Cancer modifier loci are genetic loci characterized by allele-specific effects on cancer development, e.g., stimulation or inhibition of tumor development and/or tumor size/progression. Cancer modifier loci may comprise a “null” allele, with no effects on tumor phenotypes, and a “susceptibility” or “resistance” allele, which affects tumor phenotype in a dominant, codominant, or recessive way.

Characteristics

Evidence for the existence of cancer modifier loci came first from studies in rodent models. Indeed, several studies showed that susceptibility to spontaneous and induced tumorigenesis are under genetic control. Crosses between cancer-susceptible and cancer-resistant strains may result in F1 hybrids either susceptible or resistant to tumor formation, depending on which of the two alleles (susceptibility/resistance) is dominant in the cross.

In humans, evidence for the...

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References

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy

    Tommaso A. Dragani

Authors
  1. Tommaso A. Dragani
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Correspondence to Tommaso A. Dragani .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Abt. Tumorgenetik, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Heidelberg, Germany

    Manfred Schwab

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Dragani, T.A. (2015). Modifier Loci. In: Schwab, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Cancer. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27841-9_3803-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27841-9_3803-2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27841-9

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