Genes or proteins that normally prevent uncontrolled cell growth by regulating cell division, DNA repair, or apoptosis. When tumor suppressors are lost or inactivated, cells can become cancerous.
The concept emerged in the 1970s with the discovery of the retinoblastoma gene, the first identified tumor suppressor. The name reflects their protective function - they 'suppress' tumor formation by maintaining normal growth control.
Tumor suppressors are like the brakes on a car - you don't notice them until they fail! Unlike oncogenes which cause cancer when activated, tumor suppressors cause cancer when they're broken, which is why cancer often requires 'two hits' to knock out both copies of these protective genes.
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