Oncogenes

Overview

  • Mechanism 
    • gain of function mutation in a proto-oncogene
    • due to novel protein function only one allele change needed for neoplasia
  • Categories of proto-oncogenes
    • growth factor overproduction
    • growth factor receptor upregulation
      • e.g., HER2/neu
    • signal transducer
      • e.g., ras
    • cell cycle regulators
  • Examples
GeneAssociated TumorMechanism
BCR:ABLCML9;22 translocation 
BCL-2Follicular and undifferentiated lymphomas14;18 translocation
CCND1Mantle cell lymphomas11;14 translocation
C-MycBurkitt’s lymphoma8;14 translocation
L-MycLung tumoramplification
N-MYCNeuroblastomaamplification
ERB-B2Breast, ovarian, and gastric carcinomasamplification
CDK4Melanomaamplification
RETMultiple endocrine neoplasia IIA and B point mutation
C-KITGastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST)point mutation
RASColon carcinomapoint mutation