Aurea mediocritas: the importance of a balanced genome

Abstract

Aneuploidy, defined as an abnormal number of chromosomes, is a hallmark of cancer. Paradoxically, aneuploidy generally has a negative impact on cell growth and fitness in nontransformed cells. In this work, we review recent progress in identifying how aneuploidy leads to genomic and chromosomal instability, how cells can adapt to the deleterious effects of aneuploidy, and how aneuploidy contributes to tumorigenesis in different genetic contexts. Finally, we also discuss how aneuploidy might be a target for anticancer therapies.