Oncogenes and human cancer--a surgeon's perspective

Amongst the most significant of the advances that have occurred in molecular biology in the last decade has been the development of our understanding of oncogenes, genes that would seem to be responsible for causing cancer. Subtle genetic differences between tumour cells and their normal counterparts have now been discovered, and there is much excitement being generated as new light is shed on the very roots of malignant change. Much of the technology is complicated and confusing, yet the subject should be one with which practising surgeons have a background understanding, for clinicians will possibly soon be able to utilise the results of this basic scientific research in everyday practice. This review article attempts to explain the background to the discovery of oncogenes, how they act, and how the technology may be able to be clinically used in the future in the battle to overcome cancer.