ABSTRACT
Cancer is an abnormal genetic phenomenon, involving multiple steps of somatic mutation. Genetic damage can occur at the level of the gene or the chromosome. Identification of early causal genetic events in cancer has been the key to the development of novel biomarkers of early effect in high-risk populations. The development of valid biomarkers of early effect in individuals without cancer depends on the ability to detect infrequent mutational events at critical loci in a large background of normal DNA. Carcinogenesis is a complex, multistage process which involves the accumulation of a variety of mutations within a particular cell and its progeny. Although carcinogenesis depends on a number of factors including exposure, genetics, and target tissue, certain general characteristics of cancers are known. Conventional methods used to detect point mutations such as single-stranded conformation polymorphism and sequencing, are labor intensive and require the use of radionucleotides.
