The study of interactions between genes and environmental exposures ha s expanded considerably in recent years. Highly penetrant genes that a re involved in familial cancer have been identified, but are likely to account for a relatively small proportion of total cancers. Other pre disposing genes have low penetrance, resulting in a moderate increase in the risk of specific cancers, but are widespread in the general pop ulation. This is the case for so-called metabolic polymorphisms. Scien tific interest in metabolic polymorphisms is based on the possibility of identifying subgroups of the population which are at elevated risk of developing environmentally-induced cancer. However, such studies ra ise a series of problems that are methodological - related to the stud y design and analysis - and ethical - related to the practical use tha t can be made of genetic information. This volume deals thoroughly wit h such problems.

This book discusses the role of genetic polymorphism in susceptibility to cancers. The book explores the understanding of differences between the genetic polymorphisms and mutations.It reviews the mechanisms underlying the effect of polymorphism in genes encoding proteins that play an essential role in metabolism, signal transduction, cell cycle, and DNA repair mechanisms. Further, it investigates various techniques that are used for analyzing the genetic polymorphisms. The book contains many chapters which summarize the importance of genetic information obtained from polymorphism-based pharmaco-genetic tests to predict better drug response and life-threatening adverse reactions to chemotherapeutic agents, help in understanding of the impact of SNPs on gene function, and gives overview of the different SNP databases for examination. This book, therefore, serves as an essential guidebook for independent researchers as well as institutions working in this specialised field.

Despite recent progress in many areas of treatment and control, cancer remains a frightening threat to everyone. While scientists have known for decades that the majority of human cancers are caused by environmental agents such as radiation and the chemicals in cigarette smoke, not everyone who smokes gets lung cancer. Furthermore, many people who assiduously avoid all possible risk from smoking, diet, and pollution still succumb to some form of cancer later in life. Does this mean that there is an element of blind chance in the underlying mechanisms of human carcinogenesis? To what extent do genetic influences play a role in determining the cancer risk of individuals? A number of `cancer families', in which several closely related individuals have suffered from various specific forms of cancer, have been studied by genetic epidemiologists. However, for the majority of cancer cases, little or no discernible genetic influence or family history is found. Recent research has discovered that for many of these `sporadic' (non-familial) cancer cases, defects or aberrations in certain metabolic genes not previously associated with genetic cancer risk may contribute to either causing the disease or at least increasing the chances of developing cancer. It is therefore possible that much of what has previously passed for `bad luck' may turn out to be a new type of `bad genes'. Genetic Susceptibility to Cancer explains that this new idea of `bad genes' may contain an unexpected positive side. The carcinogenic effects of these metabolic genes, unlike those of the oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes that are responsible for the inherited cancer syndromes, can potentially be overcome or nullified. Genetic Susceptibility to Cancer will provide a valuable reference for health professionals, researchers, clinicians and biomedical scientists who are interested in the current thinking in this critically important area of cancer management.

This publication originates from an international workshop which addresses a range of methodological issues underlying the use of biological markers of exposure, biological effects and individual susceptibility in cancer epidemiology. It includes a report of the workshop, with a general discussion and recommendation on epidemiology. a series of peer-reviewed authored contributors provide a more personal view on the most important aspects by key researchers.

Cancer is a term used to describe diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and are able to invade different tissues. Cancer cells can spread to various parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems. There are more than 100 different kinds of cancers. Cancers are often named for the organ or type of cell in which they start - for example, colon cancer means cancer in the colon. Different Cancers can be grouped into broader categories.