A general model of carcinogenesis (I)--Tumor evolution and gene deletion.
Carcinogenesis is functionally a deletion alteration rather than addition of genetic information. Repressor genes may be more sensitive to 'neutral' mutations of DNA than those of structural genes, since selection pressure for deletion of repressors is extremely low in multicellular organisms. Dysfunction of repressors caused by genomic mutation induces autonomic expression of structural genes which is programmed a priori in each cell. Tumor progression can be explained by this deletion model with abnormal DNA repair. Alteration of DNA repairing units may be the initial mutation in carcinogenesis.
Chigira
M
M
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Gunma University, School of Medicine, Japan.
D000818:Animals; D004260:DNA Repair; D017353:Gene Deletion; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D006801:Humans; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009154:Mutation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*