Molecular Oncology : Causes of Cancer and Targets for Treatment

The genomic era has greatly facilitated the understanding of the molecular changes that underlie malignant transformation. This timely foundation for understanding the origins of molecular oncology reviews available technologies for cancer analysis, summaries of key oncogenic pathways for a wide range of human malignancies, and pharmacologic therapies in development.

The genomic era has allowed enormous strides in our understanding of the molecular changes that underlie malignant transformation. Mutations have been discovered that are critical drivers of large cross-sections of human cancers. These discoveries have allowed us to find drugs that target these drivers and make important strides in treatment. Genomics and high-throughput technologies have illuminated the complexity of cancer and the facility with which cancers adapt during their natural history. The field is evolving rapidly with new discoveries and new drugs reported monthly. This book is a timely foundation for understanding in context the origins of molecular oncology and its future directions. The content reviews available technologies for the analysis of cancer tissues and genes; summaries of key oncogenic pathways from a molecular perspective; the technologies, pathways and targeted therapies of a wide range of human malignancies; and new pharmacologic therapies that have a common mechanistic target.