Home Previous TOC Next Bookshelf

50. Mutations and Cancer

Mutations and Cancer

 

While the prime suspects for cancer-linked mutations are the oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, and DNA repair genes, cancer conspires even beyond these. Mutations also are seen in the genes that activate and deactivate carcinogens, and in those that govern the cell cycle, cell senescence (or "aging"), cell suicide (apoptosis), cell signaling, and cell differentiation. And still other mutations develop that enable cancer to invade and metastasize to other parts of the body.