13.S: Cancer Genetics (Summary)

• Cancer is the name given to a class of different diseases that share common properties.
• Most cancers require accumulation of mutations in several different genes.
• Most cancer causing mutations are sporadic, rather than inherited, and most are caused by environmental carcinogens, including virus, radiation, and certain chemicals.
• Oncogenes are hyperactivated regulators of cell division, and are often derived from gain-of-function mutations in proto-oncogenes.
• Tumor suppressor genes normal help to repair DNA damage, arrest cell division, or to kill over proliferating cells.  Loss-of-function of these genes contributes to the progression of cancer.
• Genetic research into cancer can provide enzyme targets for drug investigation and potential treatment. E.g. Gleevec™

Key Terms:

metastasis dysplasia carcinogen HPV oncogene ionizing epidemiology proto-oncogene receptor signal transduction

ras apoptosis BRC1A p53 tumor suppressor phosphorylation CML Gleevec™ bcr-abl

Contributors

• Dr. Todd Nickle and Isabelle Barrette-Ng (Mount Royal University) The content on this page is licensed under CC SA 3.0 licensing guidelines.