title: Is the cancer process caused by deletion of one or more differentiation genes normally activated by steroid hormones?
abstract: The hypothesis is proposed that: 1. Aflatoxin B1 and polycyclic hydrocarbon carcinogens cause the deletion of genes necessary for the production of a substance required for differentiation of the cell and activated by a steroid hormone possibly a corticosteroid. 2. Such genes could include genes for production of: glutamine transaminase, glutamine synthetase, genes involving vitamin A metabolism. 3. Deletion of any of these genes could cause the cell to remain in an undifferentiated and replicating state.
mesh_terms: D000348:Aflatoxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002872:Chromosome Deletion; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000502:physiology; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000502:physiology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D009154:Mutation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D011083:Polycyclic Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011987:Receptors, Steroid / Q000378:metabolism; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D013256:Steroids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000348:Aflatoxins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011083:Polycyclic Compounds; D011987:Receptors, Steroid; D013256:Steroids; D014801:Vitamin A