Editorial: Chromosome segregation and aneuploidy in cancer

Abstract

The study of the cellular mechanisms involved in the faithfulness of chromosome segregation during cell division, the impact of chromosome missegregation and the resulting aneuploidy on cell physiology are areas of intense research. The functional association between these processes gained further interest when it became evident that despite the negative consequences of aneuploidy in the fitness of physiologically normal cells, it is the most common genomic abnormality in cancer cells, thus creating a paradox in terms of its contribution to tumorigenesis, the so-called “aneuploidy paradox.” This Research Topic explores the complex relationship between the causes and consequences of aneuploidy, as well as the contribution of abnormal chromosome numbers to cancer initiation and progression. Research teams at the forefront of Chromosome and Cancer Biology from different countries brought their unique perspective on these questions and contributed with excellent review articles to this Research Topic collection.