Provides a clear, concise and authoritative introduction to the biological principles that underlie the causes and treatment of cancer. The authors draw on their extensive teaching experience to guide students through this complex subject, and knit together the diverse areas encompassed in the study of cancer. This third edition is updated to include areas of recent research which excite student interest.

Table of Contents

Detailed contents

Preface

Preface to the second edition

Preface to the first edition

Acknowledgements

Basic science, terminology and abbreviations

1. What is cancer?
Introduction
Carcinogenesis requires several cellular changes
Lifestyle and family influences on cancer
Changes continue to accumulate after cancer formation
Cancers are most common in epithelial cells
Cancer results from uncontrolled growth
Cancer genes
Invasion and metastasis
Some cancers are curable
Prevention, screening and treatment
Further reading
Websites

2. Natural history: the life of a cancer
Introduction
Clonal origins of cancer
Experimental biology
Box2.1: Special mice used in cancer research
Clinical data
Linking laboratory and clinic

3. Pathology: defining a neoplasm
Introduction
Box3.1: Classifying cancers
Histopathology
Cytology
Immunohistochemistry
Molecular techniques
Further reading

4. Epidemiology: identifying causes for human cancers
Introduction
Descriptive epidemiology
Box4.1: Epidemiological methods and terminology
Analytical epidemiology
Criteria required to establish causality
Biomarkers
Molecular epidemiology
Factors that influence human carcinogenesis
Cancer prevention
Further reading

5. Oncogenes, tumour suppressor genes and viruses
Introduction
Box5.1: Molecular terms relevant to genes and their regulation
Oncogenes
Tumour suppressor genes
Oncogenes and tumour suppressors cooperate
Further reading

6. Chemical and radiation carcinogenesis
Introduction
Chemical carcinogenesis
Radiation carcinogenesis
Consequences of DNA damage
Predicting the type of carcinogen by mutational spectrum analysis
Further reading

7. Mutations, DNA repair and genetic instability
Introduction
Mutations
Genetic instability
Types of DNA damage
Clinical evidence that links DNA repair and carcinogenesis
Repair mechanisms
Coordination of DNA repair, proliferation and apoptosis
Further reading

8. Familial cancers
Introduction
Box8.1: Chromosome nomenclature and structure
Strong familial link
Weaker familial link
Connection with sporadic cancers
Further reading

9. Growth: a balance of cell proliferation, death and differentiation
Introduction
Normal proliferation and its regulation
Box9.1: BNA synthesis and telomere length
Cancer cells
Senescence, cell mortality and telomerase
Cell death
Apoptosis and cancer
Integration of proliferation, apoptosis and DNA repair
Differentiation
Further reading

10. Responding to the environment: growth regulation and signal transduction
General features
Growth factors
Growth factor receptors
Growth factors: from membrane to nucleus
Nuclear events stimulated by growth factors
Cell adhesion molecules
Box10.1: How a cell interacts with its environment
Hydrophobic growth regulatory molecules
Cross-talk between signalling pathways
Further reading

11. Invasion and metastasis
Introduction
General features
Escape from local control and invasion
Intravasation
Angiogenesis
Gene changes involved in metastasis
Further reading

12. Principles of cancer treatment
Introduction
Principles behind the treatment of cancer
Chemotherapy
Hormone therapy
Immunotherapy/biological response modifier therapy
Photodynamic therapy
New forms of treatment
Further reading

13. Approaches to cancer prevention
Introduction
Breast cancer, tamoxifen and anastrozole
Endometrial/ovarian cancer and the contraceptive pill
Coloncancer and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Diet
Further reading

Appendix: Features of selected cancers
Glossary
Index