Tumor suppressor genes

Genes that stop cell growth, preventing tumor development. In health, tumor suppressor genes direct the production of proteins to block cell division when there are abnormalities in the cell, such as DNA damage. When mutated, tumor suppressor genes lose the ability to influence cell division. Cells may then proliferate without regulation, the foundation of cancer. MOLECULARLY TARGETED THERAPIES and MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES (MABS) show significant promise for altering the function of mutated tumor suppressor genes to restore their ability to block cell growth.

IDENTIFIED TUMOR SUPPRESSOR GENES
GeneCancer Connection
APC COLORECTAL CANCER
BRCA-1/BRCA-2 BREAST CANCER, OVARIAN CANCER
MEN-1/MEN-2 MULTIPLE ENDOCRINE NEOPLASIA (MEN)
NF1/NF2 NEUROFIBROMATOSIS
PTEN THYROID CANCER
Rb RETINOBLASTOMA, osteosarcoma, breast cancer, LUNG CANCER
TP53 (p53) lung cancer, breast cancer, LIVER CANCER, CERVICAL CANCER, SKIN CANCER, PROSTATE CANCER, ovarian cancer
WT1 WILMS’S TUMOR

See also CELL STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION; GENE; ONCOGENES.

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