Modulation of DNA Damage Checkpoint; Patenting and Possible Application for Cancer Medicine

Eukaryote cells survey genomic integrity for DNA damage or incomplete replication. Aberrant structures being detected, checkpoint mechanisms are activated to slow down or arrest cell cycle progression, which allow the DNA damage to be repaired and the replication to be completed. In cancer development, precancerous cells overcome selective pressure to escape from blocked cell cycle progression, induced by checkpoint responses to DNA damage. Medical applications targeting the process of DNA damage would lead to efficient repairs of DNA damage or induction of cell death, which contributes to cancer detection, diagnosis and therapeutic approaches. In this article, the recent progress of our knowledge and patenting in modulation of DNA damage checkpoint especially by Rad9-Chk1 pathway is noted and possible application for cancer medicine is discussed.