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Previous Volume 358:502-511 January 31, 2008 Number 5 Next

	Since this article has no abstract, we have provided an extract of the first 100 words of the full text and any section headings.

	Full Text PDF PDA Full Text PowerPoint Slide Set Supplementary Material Editorial by Burstein, H. J. Add to Personal Archive Add to Citation Manager Notify a Friend E-mail When Cited E-mail When Letters Appear PubMed Citation

Cancer is caused by alterations in oncogenes, tumor-suppressor genes, and microRNA genes. These alterations are usually somatic events, although germ-line mutations can predispose a person to heritable or familial cancer. A single genetic change is rarely sufficient for the development of a malignant tumor. Most evidence points to a multistep process of sequential alterations in several, often many, oncogenes, tumor-suppressor genes, or microRNA genes in cancer cells.

Tumors often possess cytogenetically different clones that arise from the initial transformed cell through secondary or tertiary genetic alterations. This heterogeneity contributes to differences in clinical behavior and responses to treatment of tumors . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Evidence of Somatic Genetic Change

Functional Properties of Oncogenes

Products of Oncogenes

            Transcription Factors

            Chromatin Remodelers

            Growth Factors

            Growth Factor Receptors

            Signal Transducers

            Apoptosis Regulators

Oncogene Activation

            Chromosomal Rearrangements

            Mutations

            Gene Amplification

Oncogenes in Cancer Initiation and Progression

Oncogenes as Therapeutic Targets

MicroRNA Genes

Summary

Source Information

From the Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology, and Medical Genetics and the Human Cancer Genetics Program, Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus.

Address reprint requests to Dr. Croce at the Human Cancer Genetics Program and Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology, and Medical Genetics, Ohio State University Medical Center, 385L Wiseman Hall, 400 W. 12th Ave., Columbus, OH 43210, or at carlo.croce@osumc.edu.

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