Tumor Suppressor Genes: Role in Cancer and Cancer Therapy – Healthline

Tumor suppressor genes, or antioncogenes, tell healthy cells:

If tumor suppressor genes get turned off due to mutations, cells are at risk of becoming cancerous and growing uncontrollably.

Most cancer cells have more than 60 mutations. A challenge for researchers is finding which mutations cause certain types of cancer. Mutations in tumor suppressor genes are one of the two main types of mutations that lead to cancerous changes in cells. Mutations to oncogenes, which tell cells when its time to grow, are the second main type.

Many types of tumor suppressor genes have been discovered, and researchers will very likely discover more of these genes in the future. Read on to learn more about the role tumor suppressor genes play in cancer development and treatment.

Every cell in your body contains long strands of tightly coiled DNA called chromosomes that carry your genetic information. You have 23 pairs of chromosomes in all your cells except for your sex cells. These cells only contain one pair of 23 chromosomes.

Your chromosomes contain approximately 20,000 genes that hold instructions for your cells. Certain genes are turned on and off in each cell depending on the cells function. A change or damage to a gen is called a gene mutation.

Two main types of gene mutations are known to lead to the development of cancer:

The University of Texas Tumor Suppressor Gene Database lists 73 tumor suppressor genes that may play a role in cancer development. Its very likely that more genes will be discovered in the future.

Tumor suppressor genes are broadly divided into five categories:

Tumor suppressor gene mutations have been identified in many types of cancer, including:

Mutations in tumor suppressor genes can lead to tumor genesis, or the uncontrolled growth of cells. You have two copies of most genes in your body, one from each of your parents. Research has found that one copy of most tumor suppressor genes is enough to control cell division (a form of replication). This is called the two-hit hypothesis.

Many tumor suppressor genes have been studied, and its likely that many more havent been discovered yet. Some of the more well-known genes include:

Gene mutations can be inherited or acquired.

Most tumor suppressor gene mutations are acquired not inherited. But most genes linked to inherited cancers are tumor suppressor genes. Most oncogene mutations are also acquired.

Researchers are continuing to improve their understanding of why some genes mutate. Mutations in the TP53 gene have been linked to ultraviolet light exposure and tobacco smoke.

Targeted gene therapy is a promising area of cancer research that may allow doctors to deliver more personalized treatment.

Chemotherapy has long been a mainstream cancer treatment, but it often causes debilitating side effects due to damage to healthy cells. In recent years, researchers have been exploring how to use targeted therapies to treat cancer.

Targeted therapies use drugs to target cancer cells while leaving healthy cells mostly undamaged. Targeted gene therapy modifies specific genes in cancer cells.

Currently, nearly all targeted gene therapies target oncogenes and not tumor suppressor genes. Its easier for researchers to develop methods to turn off oncogenes than it is for them to turn on tumor suppressor genes.

Translating cancer research into new treatments is a long process. However, theres been steady progress in developing drugs to target the TP53 gene and some other tumor suppressor genes.

Tumor suppressor genes tell healthy cells when to destroy themselves, slow their growth, or repair DNA. Mutations to these genes can cause cells to become cancerous and multiply out of control.

More than 70 types of tumor suppressor genes may play a role in the development of cancer. Researchers are examining ways to target tumor suppressor genes to treat cancer.

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Tumor Suppressor Genes: Role in Cancer and Cancer Therapy - Healthline