Skip to content

Practice question

Question

Oncogene collaboration is required because

Options

Choose one · Correct answer highlighted

Explanation

Full malignant transformation usually requires the cooperative action of multiple oncogenes and the loss of tumor suppressors. A single oncogene is rarely sufficient because cells possess multiple barriers—apoptosis, senescence, DNA-damage checkpoints—that must be overcome. Classic experiments demonstrated that Ras and Myc together bypass these barriers more effectively than either alone, illustrating the multi-hit nature of carcinogenesis.