Molecular Biology of Cancer

Many of the cells in our body undergo tightly regulated replication to enable growth to occur, and to ensure that damaged or worn out tissues are replaced. Regulation is mediated via many different mechanisms; and it is when these mechanisms fail, and regulation is lost, that cancer can result. Recent advances in molecular cell biology have greatly expanded our understanding of the processes and mechanisms which underpin the regulation of cell replication, and what is happening at the molecular level when these fail. The Molecular Biology of Cancer: Mechanisms, Targets, and Therapeutics offers a fresh approach to the study of the molecular basis of cancer, and shows how our understanding of the defective mechanisms which drive cancer is leading to the development of new targeted therapeutic agents. Opening with an overview of the key hallmarks of cancer as a disease state, the book then leads us through the principal components of the regulatory machinery through which cell division is controlled, and explains how the failure of these components can lead to the onset of cancer. Uniquely, within each chapter, students are shown how this molecular knowledge is being applied to develop new targeted therapeutic strategies. The Molecular Biology of Cancer will prove a valuable resource for any student wishing to gain an insight into the molecular basis of the disease, and possible solutions for its effective control. The companion Web Site features figures from the book available to download, to facilitate lecture preparation, and a web link library to give students easy access to relevant online resources.