The Molecular Basis of Human Cancer

by William B. Coleman (Editor), Gregory J. Tsongalis (Editor)

Overview

In this text, international experts in basic and clinical science provide an account of the best current understanding of the genetics of cancer. The 24 contributions detail each of the known molecular mechanisms governing neoplastic transformation in the breast, prostate, lung, liver, colon, skin, and in the leukemias and lymphomas. They illuminate both recent developments and established concepts in epidemiology, molecular techniques, oncogenesis, and mutation mechanisms, as well as the chemical, viral, and physical mechanisms of cancer induction. They also consider the future directions of research, including the exploitation of molecular targets for developing anticancer drugs, gene therapy, and the appropriate use of molecular information in genetic counseling. Edited by Coleman (U. of North Carolina School of Medicine) and Tsongalis (Hartford Hospital).

Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781597454582
Publisher:	Springer-Verlag New York, LLC
Publication date:	11/11/2016
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	873
File size:	15 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

William B. ColemanDepartment of Pathology and Laboratory medicine, Curriculum in Toxicology, Program in Translational Medicine, UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC

Table of Contents

I. Introduction.- 1 Cancer Epidemiology: Incidence and Etiology of Human Neoplasms.- II. Essential Concepts in Molecular Biology.- 2 Essential Concepts and Techniques in Molecular Biology.- III. Molecular Themes in Oncogenesis.- 3 Cancer Genes.- 4 Positive Mediators of Cell Proliferation in Neoplastic Transformation.- 5 Inactivation of Negative Growth Regulators During Neoplastic Transformation.- IV. Mechanisms of Mutation.- 6 The Role of Genomic Instability in the Development of Human Cancer.- 7 Chromosomes and Chromosomal Instability in Human Cancer.- 8 Hereditary Cancer.- V. Etiology of Human Cancers.- 9 Evolution of Research in Cancer Etiology.- 10 Cellular Responses to Chemical Carcinogens.- 11 Physical Agents in Human Carcinogenesis.- 12 Viral Mechanisms of Human Carcinogenesis.- VI. Human Tumor Systems.- 13 The Molecular Biology of Colorectal Carcinoma: Importance of the Wg/Wnt Signal Transduction Pathway.- 14 Molecular Genetic Alterations in Primary Hepatocellular Neoplasms: Hepatocellular Adenoma, Hepatocellular Carcinoma, and Hepatoblastoma.- 15 The Molecular Basis of Breast Carcinogenesis.- 16 The Molecular Basis of Prostate Carcinogenesis.- 17 The Molecular Basis of Lung Carcinogenesis.- 18 The Molecular Basis of Skin Carcinogenesis.- 19 The Molecular Biology of Leukemias.- 20 Molecular Genetic Applications to the Diagnosis of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.- VII. Future Directions.- 21 Cancer Genetic Counseling.- 22 Molecular Genetic Diagnosis of Inherited Cancer Predisposition.- 23 Novel Molecular Targets for Cancer Drug Discovery.- 24 Gene Therapy in the Treatment of Human Cancer.

Editorial Reviews

3 Stars from Doody

Reviewer: Hidayatullah G. Munshi, MD (Northwestern University)
Description: This book provides current information on the molecular basis of tumorigenesis. The contributors are well known basic and clinical scientists, mainly from the United States.
Purpose: The purpose is to provide an overview of unifying concepts that pertain to carcinogenesis and then to demonstrate how these concepts are integrated in particular cancers. Detailed mechanisms relating to cancer development are provided for the more common cancers including breast and prostate.
Audience: The book is geared primarily to graduate and medical students, but it would also be useful to seasoned researchers as it provides a good overview of a number of important themes in carcinogenesis.
Features: The book is divided into seven parts. The first five parts, which make up about half the book, provide an overview of the causes of human cancers and of pertinent themes in oncogenesis. Part six provides in-depth information on mechanisms governing cancer development in the breast, prostate, lung, liver, colon, skin, leukemias, and lymphomas. Part seven describes how the information in the earlier parts of the book can help in the diagnosis and treatment of cancers. It is an easy to read book with a number of good illustrations. It is also very well referenced, though the references are slightly outdated.
Assessment: On the whole, this is a well-written and well-referenced book on the genetics of cancer. It does provide easy-to-read information on a number of important themes pertaining to carcinogenesis. Unfortunately, like many other such books, it is a little outdated. Overall, this book would be useful to those who are interested in getting an overview of the field of human carcinogenesis.

Doody's Review Service

"The structure of the book is fairly conventional, with an excellent scene-setting chapter that provides a clear description of widely applied methodologies....The tumor-specific chapters are well written and will attract those with interests in particular tumor-types. The colorectal chapters is especially well written, focussing on how the genetic alterations lead to changes in signal transduction pathways, which underpin disordered growth regulation. All chapters are extensively referenced....the book is well written and should be useful to fellows just about to enter the laboratory to undertake a period of molecular research, and for those established clinicians who require a detailed update on the contribution that molecular biology has made to cancer research." - Annals of Oncology

"This is an excellent volume for both investigators in the field of oncology as well as practicing oncologists." -Quarterly Review of Biology

From the Publisher