The following table summarizes some of the important genes involved in this disease: 

Genes Involved in Human Cancer

ONCOGENES

Genes for growth factors or their receptors: 
PDGF Codes for platelet-derived growth factor; involved in glioma 
erb-B Codes for epidermal growth factor receptor; involved in glioblastoma and breast cancer 
erb-B2 Codes for a growth factor receptor; involved in breast, salivary gland and ovarian cancers 
Genes for cytoplasmic relays in stimulatory signaling pathways 
Ki-ras Involved in lung, ovarian, colon, and pancreatic cancers 
N-ras Involved in leukemias 
 

Genes for transcription factors that activate growth-promoting genes 

c-myc Involved in leukemias and breast, stomach and lung cancers 
N-myc Involved in neuroblastoma and glioblastoma 
L-myc Involved in lung cancer 
Genes for other kinds of molecules 
Bcl-2 Codes for a protein that normally blocks cell suicide; follicular B cell lymphoma 
Bcl-1 Codes for cyclin D1, a stimulatory component of cell cycle clock; breast, head and neck cancer 
MDM2 Codes for antagonist of the p53 tumor suppressor protein; sarcomas 

TUMOR SUPPRESSOR GENES

Cytoplasmic Protein Genes
APC invovled in colon and stomach cancers 
DPC4 codes for relay molecule in signaling pathway that inhibits cell division; pancreatic cancer 
NF-1 codes for protein inhibitor of stimulatory (Ras) protein 
NF-2 involved in meningioma, ependymona, schwannoma 
Nuclear Protein Genes 
MTS1 Codes for p16 protein, a braking component of cell cycle clock; involved in many cancers 
RB Codes for pRB protein, a master brake of cell cycle; involved in many cancers 
p53 Codes for p53 protein, which can halt cell division and induce apoptosis