How Do Oncogenes and Tumor Suppressor Genes Affect Cancer?
Oncogenes are genes that, when mutated or overexpressed, promote the uncontrolled growth and division of cells, leading to cancer. Examples include the HER2 gene in breast cancer and the RAS gene in various cancers. Tumor suppressor genes, on the other hand, act as brakes to cell division and survival. When these genes are inactivated or deleted, cells can grow uncontrollably. The TP53 gene, which encodes the p53 protein, is one of the most well-known tumor suppressor genes.
