Final answer:
The deleted region likely contains a tumor suppressor gene, as these genes regulate cell cycle progression and prevent uncontrolled cell division. Tumor suppressor genes act as brakes, and their deletion can lead to the loss of necessary stop signals for the cell, potentially resulting in cancer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The deleted region in the case of some cancers that are consistently associated with the deletion of a particular part of a chromosome would most likely contain a tumor suppressor gene. These genes function as the brakes in the cellular cruise control system, preventing uncontrolled cell division. If such a gene is deleted, the cell might lack the necessary stop signal, leading to unchecked proliferation and cancer.
Tumor suppressor genes like Rb (retinoblastoma protein), p53, and p21 are vital for putting up roadblocks to cell cycle progression until certain checks are completed. Without them, due to a deletion for instance, the cell may not be able to halt division even when there are issues such as DNA damage. This would lead to the increased risk of forming a cancerous cell as these suppressor genes are no longer able to regulate the cell cycle and prevent excess growth.
On the other hand, oncogenes are altered or over-expressed proto-oncogenes, which can lead to the promotion of cell division, acting as accelerators in the cell cycle. However, the question pertains to deletions, which would implicate loss of function, thereby indicating the involvement of a tumor suppressor gene rather than an oncogene generally linked to gain of function mutations.