Abstract
In recent decades we have been given insight into the process that transforms a normal cell into a malignant cancer cell. It has been recognised that malignant transformation occurs through successive mutations in specific cellular genes, leading to the activation of oncogenes and inactivation of tumor suppressor genes. The further study of these genes has generated much of its excitement from the convergence of experiments addressing the genetic basis of cancer, together with cellular pathways that normally control important cellular regulatory programmes. In the present review the context in which oncogenes such as proliferation, cell death/apoptosis, differentiation and senescence will be described, as well as how these cellular programmes become deregulated in cancer due to mutations.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Palmero I, Peters G. Perturbation of cell cycle regulators in human cancer.Cancer Surv 1996;27: 351–367.
Wyllie AH. Apoptosis and carcinogenesis.Eur J Cell Biol 1997;73: 189–197.
Hayflick L. The limitedin vitro lifetime of human diploid strains.Exp Cell Res 1965;37: 614–636.
Campisi J. Replicative senescence: An old live's tale?.Cell 1996;84: 497–500.
Cleaver JE. It was a very good year for DNA repair.Cell 1994;76: 1–4.
Graña X, Reddy EP. Cell cycle control in mammalian cells: role of cyclins, cyclin dependent kinases (CDKs), growth suppressor genes and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (CKIs).Oncogene 1995;11: 211–219.
Pardee AB. G-1 events and regulation of cell proliferation.Science 1989;246: 603–608.
Kamb A, Gruis NA, Weaver-Feldhaus J. A cell cycle regulator potentially involved in genesis of many tumor types.Science 1994;264: 436–440.
Yang E, Korsmeyer SJ. Molecular thanatopsis: A discourse on the BCL2 family and cell death,Blood 1996;88: 386–401.
Whyte M. ICE/CED-3 proteases in apoptosis.Cell Biol 1996;6: 245–248.
Fraser A, Evan G. A license to kill.Cell 1996;85: 781–784.
Vogelstein B, Kinzler KW. p53 function and dysfunction.Cell 1992;70: 523–526.
Olsson I, Bergh G, Ehinger M, Gullberg U. Cell differentiation in acute myeloid leukaemia.Eur J Hematol 1997;57: 1–16.
Sachs L. Control of normal cell differentiation and the phenotypic reversion of malignancy in myeloid leukaemia.Nature 1978;274: 535.
Alcorta DA,et al. Involvement of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p16 (INK4a) in replicative senescence of normal human fibroblasts.Proc Nat Acad Sci USA 1996;93: 13742–13747.
Harley CB, Villeponteau B. Telomeres and telomerase in aging and cancer.Current Opinion in Genetics & Development 1995;5: 249–255.
Jones JL, Walker RA. Cell-cell and cell-stromal interactions in breast cancer invasion and metastasis.International Journal of Oncology 1997;11: 609–616.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Grandér, D. How do mutated oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes cause cancer?. Med Oncol 15, 20–26 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02787340
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02787340