癌起始于单个细胞,这些细胞的DNA遭到损伤从而引发一系列连续的染色体畸变过程。大多数细胞对此过程有高度抗性。许多种癌起源于单个转化细胞的克隆。有没有特定的保护性基因产物以维持基因组的稳定和多数细胞(特别是人体细胞)的正常行为呢?如果有,我们就可望鉴定出编码这些产物的基因,并用来抑制畸变细胞。有大量事实证明存在一些基因,其功能是作为肿瘤生长的抑制因子。本文旨在总结这些证据,并探讨鉴定和克隆肿瘤抑制基因的实验途径。另外还 Cancer begins with a single cell where the DNA of these cells is damaged causing a series of consecutive chromosomal aberrations. Most cells are highly resistant to this process. Many types of colon cancer originate from a single transformed cell. Are there any specific protective gene products that maintain the stability of the genome and the normal behavior of most cells, especially human cells? If so, we can expect to identify the genes that encode these products and act to suppress aberrant cells. There is a large body of evidence that some genes exist that function as inhibitors of tumor growth. The purpose of this article is to summarize the evidence and to explore ways to identify and clone tumor suppressor genes. In addition also