{"id":9207,"date":"2025-04-13T13:15:11","date_gmt":"2025-04-13T10:15:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/?p=9207"},"modified":"2026-04-20T18:54:32","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T15:54:32","slug":"cancer-genetics-how-genes-affect-the-development-of-oncological-diseases","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/cancer-genetics-how-genes-affect-the-development-of-oncological-diseases\/","title":{"rendered":"Cancer genetics: how genes influence the development of cancer"},"content":{"rendered":"

What is cancer genetics?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Cancer genetics is a branch of medicine and biology that studies changes in DNA that can lead to the formation of malignant tumors. These changes, or mutations, occur in genes responsible for control of cell growth, division, and repair<\/strong>. When these mechanisms are disrupted, cells begin to divide uncontrollably, which becomes the basis for the development of cancer.<\/p>\n

Oncological diseases can occur as due to hereditary (germline) mutations<\/strong>, and as a result of acquired DNA damage<\/strong> throughout life - under the influence of external factors (radiation, chemicals, viruses, etc.).<\/p>\n

Key genes associated with cancer<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Gene group<\/strong><\/th>\nFunction<\/strong><\/th>\nExamples<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Oncogenes<\/td>\nStimulate cell division<\/td>\nHER2, KRAS, BRAF<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tumor suppressor genes<\/td>\nInhibit growth or cause cell death<\/td>\nTP53, BRCA1, BRCA2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Repair genes<\/td>\nResponsible for DNA repair<\/td>\nMLH1, MSH2, ATM<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Genome stability genes<\/td>\nSupports proper cell division<\/td>\nCHEK2, RAD51<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

When a mutation occurs in oncogenes, they begin to \u201cpush\u201d the cell to divide. If the work of suppressor genes is disrupted, the cell loses control over this process.<\/p>\n

Hereditary cancer: who is at risk<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Close 5\u201310% of all cancers are hereditary<\/strong>. This means that the mutation is already present in all cells of the body from the moment of birth and can be passed on to subsequent generations. The most well-known hereditary forms are:<\/p>\n