RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The null oncogene hypothesis and protection from cancer
JF Journal of Medical Genetics
JO J Med Genet
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 12
OP 14
DO 10.1136/jmg.39.1.12
VO 39
IS 1
A1 M P Davenport
A1 R L Ward
A1 N J Hawkins
YR 2002
UL http://jmg.bmj.com/content/39/1/12.abstract
AB Tumour progression involves the inactivation of tumour suppressor genes and the activation of proto-oncogenes. Inactivation of both copies of a tumour suppressor gene is required for carcinogenesis, while germline deletion or inactivation of one copy results in an increase in the risk of cancer and is responsible for many of the known hereditary cancer syndromes. In contrast, activation of only one copy of a proto-oncogene is required for carcinogenesis. Germline deletion or inactivation of one copy of a proto-oncogene halves the risk of activation at this locus. We propose that studies of high risk cancer patients will show such “null oncogene” mutations.