Cline M J
Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 1987 Sep;13(9):1297-301. doi: 10.1016/0360-3016(87)90219-7.
Proto-oncogenes are normal genes which affect normal cell growth and proliferation, but which have the potential to contribute to cancer development if their expression is altered. A variety of events may activate proto-oncogenes and convert them from benign genes to cancer genes. These events include mutations of nucleic acid sequences, chromosomal rearrangements, and amplification of the number of genes. The observations that alterations in specific gene sequences frequently accompany neoplasia have provided the first insights into the pathogenesis of human cancer at the molecular level. These insights offer new opportunities for developing cancer diagnostics and therapeutics.
原癌基因是影响正常细胞生长和增殖的正常基因，但如果其表达发生改变，就有可能导致癌症的发生。多种事件可能激活原癌基因，并将它们从良性基因转变为癌基因。这些事件包括核酸序列突变、染色体重排以及基因数量的扩增。特定基因序列的改变常常伴随肿瘤形成这一观察结果，为人类癌症发病机制的分子水平研究提供了最初的见解。这些见解为开发癌症诊断和治疗方法提供了新的机会。
