Disease proto-oncogenes

By now, we have put together a lot of the cancer story. We know that cancer is a disease originating in a single cell that has overcome the normal limits to its growth and proliferation and that mutations in proto-oncogenes and/or tumor suppressor genes are required for this to happen. Beyond that, we know that multiple such mutations are usually required. 

Since point mutations of the ras proto-oncogene are often found in cancer, a vaccine was made with mutated ras peptides mixed with Detox. In a phase I study, CD4+ proliferation and CD8+ cytotoxicity specific to the mutated peptide, were observed. The side effects were minimal and one patient showed a stabilisation of the disease [213],... 

C. Eng. The RET proto-oncogene in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 and Hirschsprung s disease. Seminars in medicine of the Beth Israel Hospital, Boston. NEn J Med, 335 (13), 943-951, 1996. 

Also T. Attie, A. Pelet, P. Edery, C. Eng, L. M. Mulligan, J. Amiel, et al. Diversity of RET proto-oncogene mutations in familial and sporadic Hirschsprung disease. Hum Mol Genet, 4 (8), 1381-1386, 1995. 

Alberti L, Carniti C, Miranda C, et al. RET and NTRKl proto-oncogenes in human diseases. J Cell Physiol 2003 195 168-86. 

Class Proto-oncogene Activation Mechanism Location Disease... 

In most cases, neoplasia is an individual disease occurring sporadically. However, 5-15% of tumors (in certain types of cancer up to 25% e.g. medullary thyroid carcinoma) is inherited due to a germ line mutation in a tumor suppressor gene or a proto-oncogene. It is noteworthy to mention that genes mutated in inherited cancer syndromes could also play a role in somatic cardnogenesis. 

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