Approach to evaluate the risk of cancer for different number of tumor suppressor genes in the individual

Abstract

Significant progress in understanding the mechanisms of carcinogenesis is associated with the discovery of tumor suppressor genes (or antioncogenes). It is known that in the human population, the number of normally functioning suppressor genes varies in different individuals at birth. The aim of the study was to assess the probability of cancer development in an individual with a different initial number of undamaged normally functioning antioncogenes. On the basis of the probabilistic mathematical model of carcinogenesis, the most probable age of cancer development depending on the number of intact antioncogenes was assessed. As a result of the studies, the probability of cancer development depending on the age of the patient is estimated. The dependence of the probability of cancer development in an individual on the number of undamaged antioncogenes is also investigated. The analysis of the significance of the number of tumor suppressor genes, the damage of which may be the cause of initiation of cell malignancy, has been carried out.