Thomas J. Smith and David Kriebel
- Published in print:
- 2010
- Published Online:
- January 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780195141566
- eISBN:
- 9780199872145
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195141566.003.0015
- Subject:
- Public Health and Epidemiology, Public Health, Epidemiology
The introduction to discrete irreversible processes in Chapter 13 noted that there are two important examples of groups of diseases that follow this pattern: immune sensitization and carcinogenesis. ...
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The introduction to discrete irreversible processes in Chapter 13 noted that there are two important examples of groups of diseases that follow this pattern: immune sensitization and carcinogenesis. Unfortunately, much less is known about the intermediate steps in sensitization, and few examples of biologically based models have been applied to studies of immune diseases in humans, as was noted. This chapter discusses carcinogenesis, which has been more extensively studied.Less
The introduction to discrete irreversible processes in Chapter 13 noted that there are two important examples of groups of diseases that follow this pattern: immune sensitization and carcinogenesis. Unfortunately, much less is known about the intermediate steps in sensitization, and few examples of biologically based models have been applied to studies of immune diseases in humans, as was noted. This chapter discusses carcinogenesis, which has been more extensively studied.
Peter Hoskin and Wendy Makin
- Published in print:
- 2003
- Published Online:
- November 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780192628114
- eISBN:
- 9780191730115
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780192628114.003.0002
- Subject:
- Palliative Care, Patient Care and End-of-Life Decision Making, Pain Management and Palliative Pharmacology
Malignant cells differ from normal tissues in a number of fundamental properties. The malignancy in cells is a result of the changes in the genetic make-up of the cells. Changes in the sequences of ...
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Malignant cells differ from normal tissues in a number of fundamental properties. The malignancy in cells is a result of the changes in the genetic make-up of the cells. Changes in the sequences of the DNA due to amplification of protein production are associated with the development and maintenance of malignant growth. Furthermore, changes in cell regulation and tissue growth also lead to malignancy. This chapter focuses on the biological issues of cancer to equip readers with a comprehensive background on the processes by which a malignant growth can cause symptoms from both the local and metastatic sides and by which malignancy can cause death. Discussions in it include the aetiology of cancer, the different stages of carcinogenesis, the high incidence of cancer due to genetic factors and gene abnormality, and the history and progression of malignant disease.Less
Malignant cells differ from normal tissues in a number of fundamental properties. The malignancy in cells is a result of the changes in the genetic make-up of the cells. Changes in the sequences of the DNA due to amplification of protein production are associated with the development and maintenance of malignant growth. Furthermore, changes in cell regulation and tissue growth also lead to malignancy. This chapter focuses on the biological issues of cancer to equip readers with a comprehensive background on the processes by which a malignant growth can cause symptoms from both the local and metastatic sides and by which malignancy can cause death. Discussions in it include the aetiology of cancer, the different stages of carcinogenesis, the high incidence of cancer due to genetic factors and gene abnormality, and the history and progression of malignant disease.
Natalia L. Komarova and Dominik Wodarz
- Published in print:
- 2007
- Published Online:
- April 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780199207466
- eISBN:
- 9780191728167
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199207466.003.0022
- Subject:
- Biology, Evolutionary Biology / Genetics
Mathematical models of cancer evolution can provide helpful insights. This chapter describes a way to model cancer in which carcinogenesis is a microevolutionary process inside an organ. It uses both ...
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Mathematical models of cancer evolution can provide helpful insights. This chapter describes a way to model cancer in which carcinogenesis is a microevolutionary process inside an organ. It uses both stochastic methods and methods of evolutionary population dynamics and focuses on two particular problems: (a) the role of genetic instability in cancer initiation and progression; and (b) the problem of resistance in cancer treatment with small molecule inhibitors. The dynamics are generated by cell reproduction and mutation, and by the selection pressures that act on the different cell variants. These dynamics can be captured in equations which yield insights into the outcome of these complex processes that would otherwise not be possible. The general message of this review is that population dynamics and evolutionary thinking can provide a new dimension to cancer research, which complements the molecular and cell-focused approach that is primarily used.Less
Mathematical models of cancer evolution can provide helpful insights. This chapter describes a way to model cancer in which carcinogenesis is a microevolutionary process inside an organ. It uses both stochastic methods and methods of evolutionary population dynamics and focuses on two particular problems: (a) the role of genetic instability in cancer initiation and progression; and (b) the problem of resistance in cancer treatment with small molecule inhibitors. The dynamics are generated by cell reproduction and mutation, and by the selection pressures that act on the different cell variants. These dynamics can be captured in equations which yield insights into the outcome of these complex processes that would otherwise not be possible. The general message of this review is that population dynamics and evolutionary thinking can provide a new dimension to cancer research, which complements the molecular and cell-focused approach that is primarily used.
LAUREL A. HABEL and GARY D. FRIEDMAN
- Published in print:
- 2006
- Published Online:
- September 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780195149616
- eISBN:
- 9780199865062
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195149616.003.0025
- Subject:
- Public Health and Epidemiology, Public Health, Epidemiology
This chapter discusses the link between therapeutic drugs and cancer. Topics covered include chemical carcinogenesis, drug safety, pharmacoepidemiologic studies, methodologic issues in studies of ...
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This chapter discusses the link between therapeutic drugs and cancer. Topics covered include chemical carcinogenesis, drug safety, pharmacoepidemiologic studies, methodologic issues in studies of drugs and cancer, methodologic issues in studies of drugs and cancer, and magnitude of the problem of carcinogenesis due to drugs.Less
This chapter discusses the link between therapeutic drugs and cancer. Topics covered include chemical carcinogenesis, drug safety, pharmacoepidemiologic studies, methodologic issues in studies of drugs and cancer, methodologic issues in studies of drugs and cancer, and magnitude of the problem of carcinogenesis due to drugs.
Christopher Haiman and David Hunter
- Published in print:
- 2008
- Published Online:
- September 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780195311174
- eISBN:
- 9780199865093
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195311174.003.0004
- Subject:
- Public Health and Epidemiology, Public Health, Epidemiology
Clarifying the complex etiologic role of environmental and genetic factors in carcinogenesis will be challenging but necessary to understand fully the causes of cancer and how it can be prevented. ...
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Clarifying the complex etiologic role of environmental and genetic factors in carcinogenesis will be challenging but necessary to understand fully the causes of cancer and how it can be prevented. The decoding of the human genome sequence, and the availability of information on the common genetic variation in populations has led to the conduct of genome-wide association studies (GWAS), that have identified loci for dozens of new cancer susceptibility genes. Observational epidemiology studies (case-control and cohort studies) have become the main design used for the association of low penetrance alleles with cancer risk. Studies that identify genetic markers of risk may identify new biological mechanisms and aid in personal assessment of cancer risk. Such studies may also potentially provide clues for cancer therapy, and facilitate early detection and screening efforts in genetically susceptible subgroups of the population.Less
Clarifying the complex etiologic role of environmental and genetic factors in carcinogenesis will be challenging but necessary to understand fully the causes of cancer and how it can be prevented. The decoding of the human genome sequence, and the availability of information on the common genetic variation in populations has led to the conduct of genome-wide association studies (GWAS), that have identified loci for dozens of new cancer susceptibility genes. Observational epidemiology studies (case-control and cohort studies) have become the main design used for the association of low penetrance alleles with cancer risk. Studies that identify genetic markers of risk may identify new biological mechanisms and aid in personal assessment of cancer risk. Such studies may also potentially provide clues for cancer therapy, and facilitate early detection and screening efforts in genetically susceptible subgroups of the population.
Robert N. Hoover, Amanda Black, and Rebecca Troisi
- Published in print:
- 2017
- Published Online:
- December 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780190238667
- eISBN:
- 9780190238698
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780190238667.003.0022
- Subject:
- Public Health and Epidemiology, Epidemiology, Public Health
Hormones are highly biologically active endogenous compounds that control the growth, development, physiology, and homeostasis of numerous organ systems. Because of this, they have long been thought ...
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Hormones are highly biologically active endogenous compounds that control the growth, development, physiology, and homeostasis of numerous organ systems. Because of this, they have long been thought likely to play key roles in both normal and abnormal (malignant) growth. They are also noteworthy for being produced away from the tissues that they control, and are thus secreted into circulating blood to reach their target organs. This combination of potent, targeted agents of growth and development that can be measured in available biologic fluids has made steroidal and peptide hormonesparticularly susceptible and relevant to epidemiologic investigation. In addition, medications containing hormones and hormone antagonists have come into widespread use, providing further opportunities for epidemiologic insights into hormonal carcinogenesis. The development of increasingly more accurate assays to measure sex hormones and their metabolites has resulted in major advances in understanding the hormonal etiology of breast and gynecologic malignancies.Less
Hormones are highly biologically active endogenous compounds that control the growth, development, physiology, and homeostasis of numerous organ systems. Because of this, they have long been thought likely to play key roles in both normal and abnormal (malignant) growth. They are also noteworthy for being produced away from the tissues that they control, and are thus secreted into circulating blood to reach their target organs. This combination of potent, targeted agents of growth and development that can be measured in available biologic fluids has made steroidal and peptide hormonesparticularly susceptible and relevant to epidemiologic investigation. In addition, medications containing hormones and hormone antagonists have come into widespread use, providing further opportunities for epidemiologic insights into hormonal carcinogenesis. The development of increasingly more accurate assays to measure sex hormones and their metabolites has resulted in major advances in understanding the hormonal etiology of breast and gynecologic malignancies.
Robin Wolfe Scheffler
- Published in print:
- 2019
- Published Online:
- January 2020
- ISBN:
- 9780226458892
- eISBN:
- 9780226628400
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of Chicago Press
- DOI:
- 10.7208/chicago/9780226628400.003.0011
- Subject:
- History, History of Science, Technology, and Medicine
Chapter 10 explains how molecular approaches to cancer survived a period of political and cultural disillusionment in the late 1970s. Environmental and social approaches to the cancer problem ...
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Chapter 10 explains how molecular approaches to cancer survived a period of political and cultural disillusionment in the late 1970s. Environmental and social approaches to the cancer problem reemerged in national policy discussions. The revival of molecular approaches by the mid-1980s depended not on the demonstrated therapeutic returns of the “oncogene paradigm” but on the promise of breakthroughs at an accelerating pace in oncogene and oncoprotein research. This sense of potential depended on recycling the infrastructure of virus studies built during the War on Cancer by figures such as Robert Weinberg while administrators such as Vincent DeVita recast the history of virus studies to create a new alignment between the biomedical research emphasis of the National Cancer Institute and the disciplinary interests of molecular biology.Less
Chapter 10 explains how molecular approaches to cancer survived a period of political and cultural disillusionment in the late 1970s. Environmental and social approaches to the cancer problem reemerged in national policy discussions. The revival of molecular approaches by the mid-1980s depended not on the demonstrated therapeutic returns of the “oncogene paradigm” but on the promise of breakthroughs at an accelerating pace in oncogene and oncoprotein research. This sense of potential depended on recycling the infrastructure of virus studies built during the War on Cancer by figures such as Robert Weinberg while administrators such as Vincent DeVita recast the history of virus studies to create a new alignment between the biomedical research emphasis of the National Cancer Institute and the disciplinary interests of molecular biology.
