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Mutation of the Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) gene causes Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy, degenerative neuromuscular disorders that primarily affect voluntary muscles. However, increasing evidence implicates DMD in the development of all major cancer types. DMD is a large gene with 79 exons that codes for the essential muscle protein dystrophin. Alternative promotor usage drives the production of several additional dystrophin protein products with roles that extend beyond skeletal muscle. The importance and function(s) of these gene products outside of muscle are not well understood.

We highlight a clear role for DMD in the pathogenesis of several cancers, including sarcomas, leukaemia’s, lymphomas, nervous system tumours, melanomas and various carcinomas. We note that the normal balance of …