Cancer Oncogenes

Question 1

ABL gene

Answer 1

The ABL gene codes for a tyrosine kinase and is associated with CML and ALL.

Question 2

HER2/neu or c-erbB2 gene

Answer 2

HER2/neu gene, also known as c-erbB2, codes for a tyrosine kinase receptor and is overexpressed in breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and gastric carcinomas.

Question 3

RET gene

Answer 3

The RET gene codes for a tyrosine kinase receptor and is overexpressed in multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) type 2A and 2B. Ret is also mutated in spontaneous medullary thyroid carcinoma, as well as some papillary thyroid carcinomas.

Question 4

BRAF gene

Answer 4

The BRAF gene codes for a serine/threonine kinase and is overexpressed in melanoma and some papillary thyroid carcinomas.

Question 5

C-kit

Answer 5

C-kit is a cytokine receptor and is overexpressed in gastrointestinal stromal tumor.

Question 6

Bcl-2

Answer 6

Bcl-2 is involved in stabilization of the mitochondrial membrane to prevent apoptosis and is overexpressed in follicular lymphoma.

Question 7

C-myc

Answer 7

C-myc is a transcription factor and is associated with an 8;14 translocation in Burkitt lymphoma.

Question 8

L-myc

Answer 8

L-myc is a transcription factor and is associated with lung cancer.

Question 9

N-myc

Answer 9

N-myc is a transcription factor and is associated with neuroblastoma.

Question 10

Ras

Answer 10

Ras is a GTPase that is overexpressed in colon cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer and follicular thyroid cancer.

Question 11

JAK2

Answer 11

Mutations in JAK2, a non-receptor tyrosine kinase involved in hematopoietic growth factor signaling, are associated with chronic myeloproliferative disorders except CML (polycythemia vera, essential thrombocytosis [30-50%], and myelofibrosis [30-50%]).