GIST Support International - Glossary of Terms
| Definition |
| telomerase | An enzyme that rebuilds telomeres. Telomerase is overexpressed in many cancer cells, and contributes to their immortality, or ability to divide endlessly. |
| telomeres | Special DNA sequences at the ends of each chromosome that grow shorter each time a cell divides. Telomeres count the number of cell divisions, and when it shortens to a certain length, the cell will stop dividing (senescence) and eventually die. |
| tumor suppressor gene | A protective gene that normally limits the growth of tumors. Tumor suppressor genes encode proteins that prevent the cell from proliferating (dividing) if it has abnormalities in its DNA. When a tumor suppressor gene is mutated (altered), it may fail to keep a cancer from growing. Some of the tumor suppressor genes that may be involved in GIST include p53, p16, and pTEN. |
