The Molecular Basis of Cancer

Successfully fighting cancer starts with understanding how it begins. This thoroughly revised 3rd Edition explores the scientific basis for our current understanding of malignant transformation and the pathogenesis and treatment of cancer. A team of leading experts thoroughly explain the molecular biologic principles that underlie the diagnostic tests and therapeutic interventions now being used in clinical trials and practice. Incorporating cutting-edge advances and the newest research, the book provides thorough descriptions of everything from molecular abnormalities in common cancers to new approaches for cancer therapy. A new full-color format expedites reference, and a new bonus Expert Consult Edition website enables you to search the full text, download all of the book’s images for your personal use, and review periodic updates. New to this edition Features numerous descriptions of the latest clinical strategies—helping you to understand and take advantage of today’s state-of-the-art biotechnology advances. By John Mendelsohn, MD, Professor, Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas ; Peter M. Howley, MD, Shattuck Professor of Pathological Anatomy, Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Division of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts ; Mark A. Israel, MD, Director, Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Professor of Pediatrics and Genetics, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, New Hampshire; Joe W. Gray, PhD, Gordon Moore Professor and Chair, Biomedical Engineering, Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) Director, OHSU Center for Spatial Systems Biomedicine, Portland, Oregon; Emeritus Professor, UCSF, and Visiting Faculty, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California and Craig B. Thompson, MD, President and CEO, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York Table of Contents: Part I: Carcinogenesis and Cancer Genetics 1. Cancer, A Genetic Disorder 2. Oncogenes and Signal Transduction 3. Tumor Suppressor Genes 4. Genomic Instability and DNA Repair 5. Epigenetics and Cancer 6. Infectious Agents and Cancer 7. Environmental Carcinogenesis 8. Animal Models: Flies, Fish and Yeast 9. Genetic Mouse Models of Cancer Part II: Cancer Biology 10. Cancer Stem Cells 11. Regulation of the Cell Cycle 12. Cell Growth 13. Cancer Cell Metabolism 14. Apoptosis, Autophagy and Necrosis 15. Cell Growth Arrest and Senescence 16. Stromal-Cancer Interactions in the Microenvironment 17. Hypoxia and Angiogenesis 18. Invasion and Metastasis 19. Inflammation and Cancer 20. Molecular Pathways and Systems Biology Part III: Molecular Pathology and Diagnostics 21. Biomarkers Assessing Risk of Cancer 22. Biomarkers for Detecting Cancer: Molecular Screening 23. Biomarkers for Predicting Response to Specific Therapy 24. The Technology of Analyzing Nucleic Acids 25. Imaging Cancer