Proto-oncogenes, growth factor genes, receptor genes, differentiation genes and structural rearrangements in human cancer.

Information on chromosomal structural rearrangements in leukemia and solid tumors was retracted from a computerized databank and the literature. A binomial test procedure was used to determine the statistical significance of the observed numbers of breaks. Some 131 human cancer-specific chromosomal structural rearrangements were also taken from the literature. The results showed that breakage and deletion occurred preferentially in bands known to contain proto-oncogenes, growth factor genes, receptor genes and differentiation genes. Therefore, chromosomal structural rearrangements could be used to find and map new genes involved in the genesis and/or progression of neoplasia.