BRM CHROMOTHRIPSIS · Dissecting Cancer Development by Chromothripsis Using Cell-Based Models

Cancer is commonly thought as a progressive process, requiring accumulation of many mutations over time. Recently, this conventional view of cancer progression has been challenged with the discovery of a phenomenon called chromothripsis, whereby tens to hundreds of chromosomal rearrangements occur in a single catastrophic event. Despite the growing amount of sequencing data that sheds some light on the nature of these structural variations, the molecular mechanisms behind these detrimental alterations are unclear. Here, I propose a research project aiming to decipher the mechanistic basis of chromothripsis. I will generate human cell lines with various genetic backgrounds that are prone to accumulate persistent DNA damage. With these cell lines in hand