chromothripsis

Term: chromothripsis

Literally meaning: “chromosomes shattering”

Origin: Anc Greek

χρωμο-/chromo-(=combining form denoting color)

+θρίψις/thripsis ( =the process of shattering into pieces )> τρίβω/trivo (= to rub)

Coined/History

The term was coined in 2011 by Stephens et al who published their paper in Cell suggesting  that during cancer development the pattern of chromosome rearrangement can only be explained by a singular event.

Source

Stephens PJ, Greenman CD, Fu B, Yang F, Bignell GR, Mudie LJ, Pleasance ED, Lau KW, Beare D, Stebbings LA, McLaren S, Lin ML, McBride DJ, Varela I, Nik-Zainal S, Leroy C, Jia M, Menzies A, Butler AP, Teague JW, Quail MA, Burton J, Swerdlow H, Carter NP, Morsberger LA, Iacobuzio-Donahue C, Follows GA, Green AR, Flanagan AM, Stratton MR, Futreal PA, Campbell PJ (2011). "Massive genomic rearrangement acquired in a single catastrophic event during cancer development". Cell 144(1):27-40. 

Definition

Chromothripsis is the phenomenon of the chromosomal rearrangements involving many simultaneous chromosome breaks on one or more chromosomes. Chromothripsis is restricted to a chromosomal region and it is believed that could lead to cancer.