Transcription factors: structure, function, and implication in malignant growth.

Transcription factors are the principal modulators of gene expression patterns in the organism and are thus involved in processes leading to changes in developmental programmes, responses to growth and differentiation signals, and some of the alterations causing neoplastic transformation. The present overview deals with general aspects of the structure, function, and regulation of transcription factors, in relation to their physiological role and oncogenic potential.