Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer [Paperback]

This book describes molecular processes whose deregulation is important in the formation of tumors. The material is developed from basic cell signaling pathways to their roles in the clinical manifestation of specific cancers. Topics covered include molecular events intrinsic to tumor cells (leading to growth deregulation, extended lifespan, and the ability to invade surrounding tissue), protective mechanisms that prevent transformation (including DNA repair and epigenetic regulation), tumor-host interactions (with the endocrine system, the immune system, and blood vessel formation), and the underlying molecular defects of individual cancers.

This book describes molecular processes whose deregulation is important in the formation of tumors. The material is developed from basic cell signaling pathways to their roles in the clinical manifestation of specific cancers.

Cancer may constitute the most extensively studied functions constitute a second line of defense that disease entity of our time. Nevertheless, our com- protects against transforming defects in oncogenes prehension of the cellular and molecular pathology or tumor-suppressor genes and are here considered of malignant transformation is incomplete. In view as metasuppressor genes. Advances in the molecular of the diverse clinical presentations of various explanations of growth dysregulation, metastasis malignancies, doubts may be raised as to whether it formation, extension of life span, and loss of ma- is appropriate to refer to cancer as one group of dis- tenance of genomic and epigenetic integrity in ease states. The notion of malignant tumors as a cancer suggest models for their causal connection. pathologic and pathophysiologic class of conditions The mechanisms of growth control, senescence, and begs the question for defining criteria that charac- anchorage dependence are linked on the molecular terize all malignant growths, regardless of their tis- level (Chapter 8)l#