| oncogenes | Genes which can potentially induce neoplastic transformation. They include genes for growth factors, growth factor receptors, protein kinases, signal transducers, nuclear phosphoproteins, and transcription factors. When these genes are constitutively expressed after structural and/or regulatory changes, uncontrolled cell proliferation may result. Viral oncogenes have names of the form v-onc; cellular oncogenes (proto-oncogenes) are designated c-onc. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| oncogenesis | <oncology> The causation or production of tumours. (16 Dec 1997) |
| proto-oncogenes | Normal cellular genes homologous to viral oncogenes. The products of proto-oncogenes are important regulators of biological processes and appear to be involved in the events that serve to maintain the ordered procession through the cell cycle. Proto-oncogenes have names of the form c-onc. (12 Dec 1998) |
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