ABSTRACT
Only three putative tumor suppressor genes have been well characterized. In the inherited form of retinoblastoma, the retinoblastoma gene Rb-1 has been found to be inactivated by mutation, including deletions in retinoblastomas and other human tumors, including small-cell lung carcinoma (SCLC). The p53 gene is mutated in many types of cancer, including lung carcinomas, and may be involved in tumor progression. The primary indication for the existence of the dominantly acting tumor suppressor genes originates from epidemiological studies. An initial approach is allelic DNA sequence deletion analysis, which identifies the chromosomal regions that may harbor the tumor suppressor genes. A small number of non-SCLC have been studied by DNA sequence deletion analysis. The genetic changes observed in these tumors may also be involved in the pathogenesis of lung cancer in combination with other tumor suppressor genes. The chapter suggests that loss of putative tumor suppressor genes identified in other cancers may have a role in the development of non-SCLC.
