TUMOUR SUPPRESSOR

tumour suppressor: translation

(= antioncogene; cancer susceptibility gene)

A gene that encodes a product that normally negatively regulates the cell cycle, and that must be mutated or otherwise inactivated before a cell can proceed to rapid division. Examples: p53, RB (retinoblastoma), WT-1 (Wilms&’ tumour), DCC (deleted in colonic carcinoma), NF-1 (neurofibrosarcoma) and APC (adenomatous polyposis coli).