Drosophila in cancer research - an expanding role

In recent years, Drosophila researchers have developed powerful genetic techniques that allow for the rapid identification and characterization of genes involved in tumor formation and development. The high level of gene and pathway conservation, the similarity of cellular processes and the emerging evidence of functional conservation of tumor suppressors between Drosophila and mammals, argue that studies of tumorigenesis in flies can directly contribute to the understanding of human cancer. In this review, we explore the historical and current roles of Drosophila in cancer research, as well as speculate on the future of Drosophila as a model to investigate cancer-related processes that are currently not well understood.