Molecular Origins of Cancer

摘要: Cancer is caused by genetic mutations. In most patients with cancer, these mutations are acquired, but some inherit a germline tumor-predisposing mutation. Although the specific abnormalities in cancers can be extremely complex, involve few general cellular functions: impairment of control cell division (tumor suppressor genes and their proteins), aberrant activation pathways that stimulate proliferation (oncogenes inactivation lead to death (apoptosis). The relative importance types mutation varies among tumors. For example, retinoblastoma loss activity pRB tumor protein, chronic myeloid leukemia Abelson proto-oncogene, follicular lymphoma commonly associated inhibit bcl-2-mediated apoptosis. By time tumors come clinical attention they may have acquired very complex disturbances involving multiple regulate proliferation, angiogenesis, confer metastatic capability. Thus, although principles discussed below form useful framework for studying molecular basis complete profile any likely complex.