Fig. 3

Schematic illustration of the molecular mechanisms underlying the formation of gene fusions. a “Induced proximity”, or chromosomal proximity induced by receptor–ligand co-activator-mediated transcription between genes on the same chromosome (intra-chromosomal) or different chromosomes (inter-chromosomal). Physical proximity accompanied by a chromosomal break during transcription or mediated by genotoxic stress can lead to aberrations in DNA repair, which, in turn, may cause the formation of gene fusions. b Fusions may result from aberrant DNA double-strand break repair involving alternative-non-homologous end joining machinery. PKC protein kinase C