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F.9ffiitr
Duan Zhen-Hon
RESEARCH ON ONCOGENES.
RETROSPECT AND
PROSPECT
Humans
have
genes closely
re-
lated
to
cancer
formation,
e.9., "proto-
oncogenes", "oncogenes" and "tumour
suppresser genes". Proto-oncogenes
are the fore-runner
of
oncogenes.
Normally, when proto-oncogenes
are
being
stimulated,
e.9., by various can-
cer causing agents, oncogenes
are
formed from proto-oncogenes and can-
cers
my be induced. Fortunately,
there
are also "tumour-suppresser genes" to
check against the development of can-
cer cells. However,
a
very delicate bal-
ance
between
various
genes
is
required, otherwise, cancers would
still
be
induced.
The earliest concept
on
oncogenes
were put forward by
a
paediatrician who had intensive
stud-
ies
on
Retinoblastoma (RB)
- a
tumour
of
the
eye
presenting at early childhood
or
even infancy). When both tumour-
suppresser genes (the "RB genes") are
missing, the
tumour
is sure to develop
and
may even present
at
birth,
otherwise, the tumour
may
present at
an older age
or
never do, as one of the
other healthy genes are
still
present.
Gene
therapy
has
already
progressed
a
lot. However,
there are still some
very
pertinent problems to be solved before
clinical implementation can
be
realised.
Nevertheless,
the
luture
is
bright,
as
the
most
significant
breakthroughs
have
already been solved.
lt
seems that, dur-
ing
the
next Century,
the
problem of
cancer eradication would be highly
successful.
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