Functional evidence for human tumour suppressor genes: chromosome and molecular genetic studies.

There is now ample genetic and some functional evidence for the existence of tumour suppressor genes. Although much of the functional evidence has been derived from somatic cell hybrid and chromosome transfer studies, it is critical that cloned candidate tumour suppressor genes be used in such functional assays. Our experience with RB and p53 indicates that much will be learned about the control of the cell cycle from studies of tumour suppressor genes. However, the handful of candidate genes cloned to date also indicates a variety of cellular localizations and cellular functions. Thus, just as oncogenes seem to act to promote growth at many levels of metabolic control, it would seem that tumour suppressor genes act in complementary ways to control cell proliferation. The molecular genetic study of cancer has truly entered an exciting phase.