CHEK2

CHEK2 (Checkpoint Kinase 2) is a gene that encodes a tumor suppressor protein. This protein plays a crucial role in preventing the formation of tumors by controlling cell division and cell death. Mutations in the CHEK2 gene can lead to an increased risk of developing several types of cancer, including breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and colorectal cancer.

Function

The CHEK2 gene provides instructions for making a protein that stops tumor growth. This protein is part of a complex network of proteins that regulate the cell cycle, which is the cell's way of replicating itself in an organized, step-by-step fashion. The CHEK2 protein acts as a checkpoint in the cell cycle by blocking the process if the DNA is damaged or if key cellular processes are not completed correctly.

Clinical significance

Mutations in the CHEK2 gene can lead to an increased risk of developing several types of cancer. These mutations may be inherited or acquired during a person's lifetime. Inherited mutations are present in all cells of the body and can significantly increase a person's risk of developing cancer. Acquired mutations occur in individual cells during a person's lifetime and are only present in the cells that grow from the mutated cell.

See also

• BRCA1
• BRCA2
• TP53
• Cancer genetics