title: [Acquired mutations--basic cancer biology].
abstract: It is now well-established that cancer is a genetic disease, although in most cases not inherited. A sporadic cancer develops when a somatic cell acquires specific growth advantages through successive accumulation of changes in cancer genes, including oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes and stability genes. Alterations of these genes lead to deregulation of cellular signaling pathways and abnormal growth. Herein, we give a brief overview of the basic genetic changes in cancer and discuss how specific gene alterations may contribute to the development of malignant melanoma.
authors.affiliation: H:S Rigshospitalet, Haematologisk Afdeling.
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Grønbaek
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Guldberg
mesh_terms: D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000235:genetics; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000235:genetics; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D009857:Oncogenes / Q000235:genetics; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics