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Establishment and Propagation of Human Retinoblastoma Tumors in Immune Deficient Mice
07:55

Establishment and Propagation of Human Retinoblastoma Tumors in Immune Deficient Mice

Published on: August 4, 2011

The retinoblastoma tumour suppressor in development and cancer

Marie Classon1, Ed Harlow

  • 1MGH Cancer Center, Building 149, 13th Street, Room 7330, Charlestown, Massachusetts 02129, USA. classon@helix.mgh.harvard.edu

Nature Reviews. Cancer
|December 3, 2002
PubMed

Insights

The retinoblastoma (RB) tumor suppressor protein plays a complex role in cell functions. Research using knockout models is clarifying the specific roles of RB and related proteins in cancer.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • The retinoblastoma (RB) protein is a critical tumor suppressor.
  • RB influences cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival.
  • RB-related proteins possess both overlapping and opposing functions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the context-specific functions of the RB tumor suppressor.
  • To understand the distinct activities of RB and its related proteins.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of knockout mice lacking RB-related proteins.
  • Investigation of cells deficient in one or more RB-family members.

Main Results:

  • Studies are beginning to delineate the varied roles of RB proteins.
  • Context-specific functions of RB and related proteins are being identified.

Conclusions:

  • The retinoblastoma tumor suppressor and its related proteins have complex, context-dependent roles.
  • Further research is clarifying the unique contributions of this tumor suppressor family to cellular processes and cancer.

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