Oncogenes, Tumor Suppressor Genes, and Cancer

Advances in genetics and molecular biology have improved our knowledge of the inner workings of cells, the basic building blocks of the body. All living things are made of cells. Complex animals such as humans have trillions of cells. Cells work together to form organs, such as the heart, liver, and skin. Human bodies have several organ systems.

As they better understand cells, scientists have also learned a great deal about how and why cancers develop. Here we will review how cells work, how they change to become cancer, and how we may be able to use these changes to better understand, prevent, and treat cancer.