title: Cancer--approaching a universal molecular mechanism?
abstract: Accumulating evidence strongly suggests that cancer is a genetic disease, arising from mutations in DNA. These mutations alter the function or synthesis of two groups of proteins, which are the products of either proto-oncogenes or anti-oncogenes. Of the more than 30 proto-oncogenes identified, ras proto-oncogenes are most frequently found to be mutationally activated (to oncogenes) in human tumours. Developments leading to current understanding of the function of ras proto-oncogenes and of the retinoblastoma anti-oncogene are reviewed. Based on the involvement of all known oncogenes and anti-oncogenes in cellular signal transduction pathways, it is suggested that a general model for cancer at the molecular level may become a reality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Stellenbosch, Parowvallei, CP.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Ricketts
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D011905:Genes, ras; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D009857:Oncogenes; D012175:Retinoblastoma / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004247:DNA