Chromosome Arm Losses Predict Malignancy in Human Cancer

In a groundbreaking study, Dr. Ye Zheng has led a discovery that total whole-arm chromosome losses can predict malignancy across various cancer types. This revolutionary finding provides a new framework for understanding cancer development and progression.

Chromosome Arm Losses and Cancer Progression

Dr. Zheng’s research has demonstrated that aneuploidy (abnormal chromosome numbers) in cancer follows a specific pattern where chromosome arm losses are more predictive of outcomes than gains. Her work reveals:

• Total chromosome arm losses strongly correlate with cancer malignancy and patient outcomes
• The mechanism involves centromere breakage rather than traditional mitotic errors
• Histone overexpression competes with CENP-A, leading to centromere breaks and chromosome arm losses

Key Findings

1. Dr. Zheng analyzed extensive data from RNA and whole-genome sequencing databanks across multiple cancer types
2. Her analysis conclusively shows that total whole-arm losses predict cancer outcomes
3. The research establishes centromere breakage as a major initiating factor in cancer aneuploidy
4. Dr. Zheng’s work provides compelling evidence that centromere breakage alone explains whole-arm losses and gains
5. These discoveries challenge and replace conventional mitotic spindle error models

Therapeutic Implications

Dr. Zheng’s breakthrough research opens promising avenues for cancer treatment:

• Novel therapeutic approaches targeting histone overexpression could reduce aneuploidy
• These treatments have significant potential to slow cancer progression
• The findings establish new biomarkers for precision oncology

Dr. Zheng, along with Dr. Ahmad and Dr. Henikoff, has filed a patent application for related work (USPTO 63/683,342), highlighting the clinical significance of this discovery.

Original Paper