Synthetic lethality screening involves searching for genetic interactions of two mutations in which the presence of either mutation alone has no effect on cell viability, but the combination of the two mutations results in cell death. The presence of one of these mutations in cancer cells but not in normal cells could allow cancer cells to be selectively killed by mimicking the effect of the second of the two mutations with a targeted drug. Chan and Giaccia review strategies to identify synthetic lethal interactions and present case studies of anticancer agents that act by inducing synthetic lethality.
- Denise A. Chan
- Amato J. Giaccia