Cancer genetics – A review

Abstract

Changes in DNA are the fundamental cause of cancers. These changes are brought about by chemicals, viruses, radiation, and mistakes made each day in the course of duplicating the billions of units in the DNA when a cell divides. Genes, the central molecules of life, are very vulnerable to damage. However, each cell has a remarkable ability to recognize damage and repair it. The imbalance between damage and the cell’s ability to repair the damage results in the changes required in DNA to produce cancer. Because of hereditary predisposition or environmental factors or both, the DNA repair mechanisms – tumour suppressors – become defective and hence leading to accumulation of errors (mutations) throughout the genome. In times, genes important in controlling cell proliferation – cellular oncogenes – become altered; resulting in altered gene products necessary for cell cycle control. Loss of control over the cell cycle is the onset of cancer and its eventual progression. It was therefore concluded that, cancer is a disease of the genes. Further investigation into the matter was recommended.