Aneuploidy and malignancy: an unsolved equation

Aneuploidy is frequently noted in malignant tumours. There is much controversy about its cause and effect in relation to malignant tumours. Failure of the spindle checkpoint caused by mutation of the responsible genes may be one of the important factors for the development of aneuploidy. Telomere dysfunction may also be a possible source of failure of cytokinesis resulting in aneuploidy. Evidence such as tumour specific aneuploidy, presence of aneuploidy in various preneoplastic conditions, increased frequency of genetic instability in aneuploid cell lines compared with diploid cells, and mutation of mitotic checkpoint genes suggests that aneuploidy possibly plays an active role in carcinogenesis. In this brief review, the various aspects of aneuploidy with special emphasis on its mechanism of development and impact on progression of cancer are discussed.