title: The common mitochondrial DNA deletion deltamtDNA(4977): shedding new light to the concept of a tumor suppressor mutation.
abstract: We propose that the age-related accumulation of deltamtDNA(4977) mutations may serve a protective function against tumor-promoting effects of other somatic mutations. The evidence discussed here is consistent with the concept that deltamtDNA(4977) plays a tumor-suppressor role, thus shedding new light to the concept of a tumor suppressor mutation. This concept may help understand how a tumor-promoting mutation may be able to cause malignant transformation in cells lacking a tumor-suppressor mutation, while the same tumor-promoting mutation can be present in cells that carry a tumor-suppressor mutation, without causing cancer.
authors.affiliation: Gene Therapy Center (CTG-AADM), São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil. ctg@netsite.com.br
authors.forename: Sergio U
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Dani
authors.forename: Maria Angela C
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Dani
authors.forename: Andrew J G
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Simpson
mesh_terms: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D017353:Gene Deletion; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D006801:Humans; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009154:Mutation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial