Evolutionary maintenance of oncogenesis.
BACKGROUND
Transformation of normal cells into cells with malignant phenotypes is often the result of loss of tumor suppressor gene (TSG) function after exposure to a carcinogen.


CONCLUSIONS
We propose that TSGs susceptible to mutation and consequent loss of function are evolutionarily preserved in normal cell genomes so that the cells survive mutation-inducing insults and thereby evade apoptosis. While the mutations produced in TSGs confer cellular persistence and preclude apoptosis, oncogenesis is the untoward consequence. Proto-oncogenes might similarly be maintained and contain evolutionarily selected and fixed sequences susceptible to mutations (oncogene activation) that prevent cell death but ironically result in host death from malignancy.
Internal Medicine/Oncology Section, Washington University, Campus Box 8056, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA. ssorsche@im.wustl.edu
Steven M
SM
Sorscher
Aubrey
A
Hill
Eric J
EJ
Sorscher
D005075:Biological Evolution; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D009857:Oncogenes / Q000502:physiology*