title: Cancer genetics fundamentals.
abstract: It is often said that cancer is genetic. What exactly does that mean? This article is our answer to that question at the turn of the millennium. We present models of carcinogenesis, review basic cancer genetics terminology, and explain some of the fundamental genetic changes common to all types of cancer. These are organized into 6 sections of (1) self-sufficiency in growth signals, (2) insensitivity to growth-inhibitory signals, (3) evasion of programmed cell death, (4) limitless replicative potential, (5) sustained angiogenesis, and (6) tissue invasion and metastases. Underlying all of these changes are the even more fundamental enabling factors of genetic instability on both the chromosomal and the gene level. Finally, we look toward the future in a field where the future is now!
authors.affiliation: Clinical Genetics Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA. petersju@mail.nih.gov
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Loud
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dimond
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jenkins
mesh_terms: D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009385:Neoplastic Processes; D009858:Oncogenic Viruses; D009626:Terminology as Topic