Chromosomal instability in cancer - Causality and interdependence

Aberrations in the number and structure of chromosomes are a common feature of cells from solid tumors. In this brief review, I summarize the evidence that there is a causal relationship between chromosomal instability and the initiation or progression of cancer, and argue that the co-existence of both forms of instability in many solid tumors reflects mechanistic and functional interdependencies that remain poorly investigated.