Nuclear structure in cancer cells.

ABSTRACT

Nuclear architecture - the spatial arrangement of chromosomes and other nuclear components - provides a framework for organizing and regulating the diverse functional processes within the nucleus. There are characteristic differences in the nuclear architectures of cancer cells, compared with normal cells, and some anticancer treatments restore normal nuclear structure and function. Advances in understanding nuclear structure have revealed insights into the process of malignant transformation and provide a basis for the development of new diagnostic tools and therapeutics.