Fig. 4
From: Overexpression of the cohesin-core subunit SMC1A contributes to colorectal cancer development

Cohesin and cancer. Abnormal cohesin activity leads to chromosome missegregation with chromosome loss and gain. These aneuploidies could alter the expression of proto-oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes. Furthermore, since cohesin binds the promoter regions of genes essential for cell cycle control, cohesin could affects directly the expression of tumor-promoting genes. These events could produce a genetic environment which favors additional changes with the acquisition of full malignant phenotype