RB基因与其蛋白表达物的失活会导致细胞分裂不受控制地、非正常地增长而发生永生化(immortalization),最终引发肿瘤。这种基因失活可能是因为其缺失、突变或者不表达。对于家族遗传性患者,其出生前生殖细胞中RB基因已经发生过一次突变,在还有一个正常的等位基因没有发生突变的情况下,该等位基因通常会由于偶然的原因失活而不被表达,发生杂合性丢失(LOH, Lost of Zygosity)进而引发癌症。而对于非家族性遗传患者而言,需要发生两次突变才会发病,这种几率相对较低。其它的突变类型包括:无功能突变(Null allele)、启动子突变等。
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