CELL-CYCLE, TUMOR-SUPPRESSOR GENES AND LUNG CANCERS

Uncontrolled proliferation is the characteristic of cancer Several kin ds of genes control the cell cycle; oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, and genes implicated in apoptosis or survival. Two major pathways of control are frequently disrupted in human cancer The first one is the RE pathway with inactivation of the RE protein (retinoblastoma protein ), either by alteration of the retinoblastoma gene itself; or by genet ic alterations of the genes implicated in RE phosphorylation. The seco nd one is the inactivation of the p53 protein. Both of these abnormali ties are described in human lung carcinoma beet differ according to hi stologic subtype.