Important Oncogenes and Associated Tumors

PDGFB

Function: Platelet-derived growth factor
Mechanism: Overexpression, autocrine loop
Associated tumor: Astrocytoma

ERBB2 (HER2/neu)

Function: Epidermal growth factor receptor
Mechanism: Amplification
Associated tumors: subset of breast carcinomas

RET

Function: Neural growth factor receptor
Mechanism: Point mutation
Associated tumor: MEN 2A, MEN 2B, sporadic medullary carcinoma of the thyroid

KIT

Function: Stem cell growth factor receptor
Mechanism: Point mutation
Associated tumor: GI stromal tumor

RAS gene family

Function: GTP-binding protein
Mechanism: Point Mutation
Associated tumor: Carcinomas, melanoma, lymphoma

ABL

Function: Tyrosine kinase
Mechanism: t(9;22) with BCR
Associated tumor: CML and some types of ALL

c-MYC

Function: Transcription factor
Mechanism: t(8;14) involving IgH
Associated tumor: Burkitt lymphoma

N-MYC

Function: Transcription factor
Mechanism: Amplification
Associated tumor: Neuroblastoma

L-MYC

Function: Transcription factor
Mechanism: Amplification
Associated tumor: Lung carcinoma (small cell)

CCND1 (cyclin D1)

Function: Cyclin
Mechanism: t(11;14) involving IgH
Associated tumor: Mantle cell lymphoma

CDK4

Function: Cyclin-dependent kinase
Mechanism: Amplification
Associated tumor: Melanoma