Essays on Tumor Suppressor Genes

Introduction

In multicellular organisms, the cell divisions occur under the control of strict control of internal and external signals. However, cancer involves an uncontrolled growth of cells. The branch of medicine that deals with the study of cancer and tumors is known as oncology. A tumor is an abnormal mass of cells that may be benign or malignant. Benign tumors do not spread to other parts of the body while, malignant tumors can spread from the original site known as the primary site to other organs establishing secondary tumors. According to their tissue of origin, cancers are classified as ...

Introduction

Breast cancer affects the breast tissue. There are two forms of this cancer: one type originates from the ducts and is commonly known as ductal carcinoma while that which originates in the lobules is termed as lobular carcinoma. In women, breast cancer accounts for over 22 percent of all cancers (Suter & Marcum, 2007). The molecular underpinnings of breast cancer are very complex and have different cellular pathways particularly those of cell growth and proliferation. Examples of these pathways include MAPK; TP53; P13K/AKAT/mTOR and RB/E2F (Suter & Marcum, 2007). At the molecular level, these pathways are a representation of molecular mechanisms ...

Cancer is the abnormal proliferation and differentiation of cells in an abnormal tissue incongruent with the growth pattern of normal cells that persists even after the stimuli that evoked the change is withdrawn. The cell cycle check points at G1, G2 and at the end of metaphase that prevent transmission of genetically damaged DNA fail to occur. Transmission of faulty DNA results in either an abnormal rate of cell division and multiplication or abnormally constituted daughter cells. The genes affected are the normal regulatory genes including growth promoting proto-oncogenes-normal genes that are prone to becoming cancerous on mutation ...

Cancers result from alterations in the genes that control cell proliferation, differentiation or apoptosis. Collins K et al (1997). Cells have a predictable way of proliferating, guided by internal machinery that controls such. Also, there are mechanisms to make sure that the process is error free. If there is any erring cell, there are mechanisms that make sure that the cell line is destroyed so that such defective cell is not perpetuated in the body system. All these processes are directed towards making sure that cancer cells do not develop. However, if there is any deviation from these check mechanisms, ...