Cancer-associated mutations often disrupt normal cellular processes such as:
- Cell Cycle Regulation: Mutations in genes like TP53 can disable the cell's ability to halt the cell cycle in response to DNA damage. - Apoptosis: Alterations in genes like BCL2 can prevent programmed cell death, allowing damaged cells to survive and proliferate. - DNA Repair: Mutations in genes such as BRCA1 and BRCA2 impair the cell's ability to repair DNA damage, leading to genomic instability. - Signal Transduction: Changes in genes like KRAS affect signaling pathways that regulate cell growth and division.
