Importance of oncogene research to the cancer clinician

For many years a genetic basis has been postulated for cancers and leukaemias. However, this concept has now been strengthened by the discovery of a group of genes (oncogenes) which are specifically associated with neoplasia. These genes have been identified by studies of animal oncogenic viruses, by in vitro transformation studies of mouse fibroblasts, and by molecular analyses of human tumour cells. The oncogenes are altered forms of normal genes (proto-oncogenes) whose protein products are thought to be involved in the regulation of cell proliferation. It appears that the alteration of proto-oncogenes to form oncogenes results in the inappropriate production of normal proteins or in the production of abnormal proteins. It is suggested, therefore, that the presence of such proteins would allow cells to escape from normal cell growth regulation, and as a result produce uncontrolled proliferation. Oncogene research has to date been primarily concerned with identifying oncogenes and assessing their importance in the development of a number of malignancies. Such research is therefore allowing us to build up a framework of genetic changes which define the development of each type of tumour or leukaemia. Furthermore, information concerning the oncogenes is now beginning to be applied diagnostically to help in determining predisposition of an individual to disease, in aiding the accurate staging of disease, in indicating prognosis and in developing markers to detect residual disease after therapy. It is also possible that in the future we may be able to develop new anticancer therapies, for example, based on oncogene protein inhibitors, or anti-oncogene protein antibodies or even gene therapy.