genetic applications in cancer

introduction: pathophysiology of cancer is based on genetic instabilities. this can explain recent important role of genetic studies in such diseases. defects can be large (on molecular scale) at the level of chromosomal or small in nucleotide level, which eventually causes to irreversible change in the cell. conventional technical methods in cancer genetics are generally based on molecular or cytogenetic studies. therefore, we will be able to screen familial cancers, detect disease recurrence rate at molecular level, evaluate drug response and predict cancer prognosis. until now, gene therapy, as a therapeutical method has supportive and not curative role in cancer. in this article we will overview outlines of cancer genetics.