Generation of Oncogenes

The major ways of generating oncogenes:

Proliferation stimulating gene acquired by a virus.

Proviral insertional mutagenesis places growth promoting gene under the transcriptional control of viral elements.

Mutation of a proto-oncogene to an oncogene.

Gene Amplification.

Chromosomal Translocation.

Figure 4.2 The Biology of Cancer (© Garland Science 2007)

Assaying for an Oncogenic Mutation

Figure 4.10 The Biology of Cancer (© Garland Science 2007)

Point mutation can change a proto-oncogene into an oncogene

Figure 5.12a The Biology of Cancer

Mutation can change a proto-oncogene into an oncogene

Epidermal growth factor provides an example

Figure 3.23b The Biology of Cancer (© Garland Science 2007)

Figure 4.11b The Biology of Cancer (© Garland Science 2007)

HSR revealed by myc specific probe

N-myc is amplified in childhood neuroblastomas

Figure 4.6b The Biology of Cancer (© Garland Science 2007)

Figure 4.6c The Biology of Cancer (© Garland Science 2007)

Figure 5.12b The Biology of Cancer (© Garland Science 2007)

(eg. the effect of the SIS oncoprotein)

Figure 4.15a The Biology of Cancer (© Garland Science 2007)

The ‘Classic’ Oncogenic Translocation: The Philadelphia Chromosome & CML

Cytogenetic Findings

Molecular genetic findings

Figure 4.13a The Biology of Cancer (© Garland Science 2007)

Chromosomal Translocation in Burkitts Lymphoma