[Cancer genetics. A review of oncological molecular biology seen in relation to the human genome]

Abstract

Genetic changes are associated with the neoplastic process, when a normal cell is transformed into a cancer cell. Cell growth and differentiation are regulated by complicated interactions between growth promoting and inhibiting signals. Oncogenes are examples of growth promoting genes and tumour suppressor genes (gatekeepers and caretakers) are examples of growth inhibiting genes. Binding of a growth factor to its membrane receptor induces a cascade of intracellular signals resulting in proliferation. Regulation of proliferation is tightly correlated to the regulation of cell cycle, and many of the growth regulating genes also regulate cell cycle, and vice versa. The malignant transformation also includes evasion of programmed cell death (apoptosis), limitless replicative potential (evasion of senescence), sustained angiogenesis, and tissue invasion and metastasis. A rough sketch of the human genome has recently been published, and it brings hope of new potentials in cancer diagnostics, treatment, and choice of treatment, but also in revealing the molecular mechanisms behind cancer predisposition and environmental interactions. It is to be hoped that this will result in possibilities of cancer prophylaxis.