The ARF tumor suppressor: structure, functions and status in cancer.

The INK4b-ARF-INK4a locus encodes two members of the INK4 family of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, p15(INK4b) and p16(INK4a), and a completely unrelated protein called ARF. ARF is a nucleolar protein with unusual structure that exhibits tumor suppressive functions. There is growing evidence that ARF signaling is complex, and involves p53-dependent or -independent pathways aiming mainly at restraining abnormal cell growth and at maintaining genomic stability.

Lung cancer: a modified epigenome.

Epigenetic is the study of heritable changes in gene expression that occur without changes in DNA sequence. This process is important for gene expression and genome stability and its disruption is now thought to play a key role in the onset and progression of numerous tumor types. The most studied epigenetic phenomena includes post-translational modifications in DNA and histone proteins as well as microRN As expression.