Oncogenes, onco-suppressors, carcinogenesis and oral cancer.
The regulation of cell growth is fundamental to the maintenance of health: disturbed regulation can result in neoplasia. Genes in normal cells (protooncogenes) code for proteins involved in the regulation of cell growth and differentiation; abnormalities in these genes (oncogenes) or their expression are often involved in the development of cancer. This paper summarises the essentials of the complex cell growth regulatory mechanisms, their genetic control, and their disturbances in neoplasia, emphasising the role of cancer-promoting (oncogenes) and suppressing genes (onco-suppressors or anti-oncogenes), especially in relation to oral carcinoma, and discusses the possible role of viruses as one cause of neoplasia.
Scully
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University Department of Oral Medicine, Surgery and Pathology, Bristol Dental Hospital and School.
D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D015513:Oncogene Proteins; D009857:Oncogenes; D011519:Proto-Oncogenes; D015398:Signal Transduction
D006133:Growth Substances; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D015513:Oncogene Proteins