RAS GENES, P53 AND HPV AS PROGNOSTIC INDICATORS IN HUMAN CANCER (REVIEW)

The role of oncogenes and once-suppressor genes in carcinogenesis has been well documented. Among oncogenes and once-suppressor genes, ras a nd p53 genes respectively are involved in the majority of human tumour s. Almost all human tumours harbour alterations of both or either of t hese genes in various frequencies. The clarification of their role in human tumours may be useful in the early diagnosis and treatment of th e disease. Human papillomaviruses (HPV) types 16, 18 and a number of a dditional HPV types have been found to be associated with the cancer o f the cervix and in other anogenital cancers. The aim of the present s tudy is to summarise available information of the role of ras and p53 genes and HPVs in carcinogenesis and to reveal their potential applica tion in the clinical practice.