Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN) Nursing Practice Test

Tumor suppressor genes play a critical role in regulating the cell cycle, which is essential for maintaining normal cellular function and preventing uncontrolled cell growth. These genes encode proteins that help monitor and control the progression of the cell cycle, ensuring that cells only divide when appropriate. By doing so, they act as a safeguard against the formation of tumors, as they can halt the cycle if errors are detected, allowing for repair or triggering apoptosis if the damage is irreparable.

While other functions such as DNA repair and apoptosis are important in cellular processes and can be influenced by tumor suppressor genes, the central role of these genes is to exert regulatory control over the cell cycle. This is evident in the case of well-known tumor suppressor genes like TP53, which is critical for cell cycle regulation, DNA repair, and apoptosis. When tumor suppressor genes are mutated or inactivated, it can lead to unchecked cell division and the potential development of cancer.