David Fisher, MD, PhD, and an authoritative panel of academic, cutting-edge researchers review and summarize the current state of the field. Describing the broad roles of tumor suppressors from a perspective based in molecular biology and genetics, the authors detail the major suppressors and the pathways they regulate, including cell cycle progression, stress responses, apoptosis, and responses to DNA damage. Leading-edge and forward-looking, Tumor Suppressor Genes in Human Cancer illuminates what is currently known of tumor suppressor genes and their regulation, work that is already beginning to revolutionize cancer target elucidation, drug discovery, and treatment design.

This comprehensive encyclopedic reference provides rapid access to focused information on topics of cancer research for clinicians, research scientists and advanced students. Given the overwhelming success of the first edition, which appeared in 2001, and fast development in the different fields of cancer research, it has been decided to publish a second fully revised and expanded edition. With an A-Z format of over 7,000 entries, more than 1,000 contributing authors provide a complete reference to cancer. The merging of different basic and clinical scientific disciplines towards the common goal of fighting cancer makes such a comprehensive reference source all the more timely.

The Second Edition of The Oncogene and Tumour Suppressor Gene FactsBook has been completely revised, updated, and expanded by 60%. The book contains more than 80 entries on oncogenes including JUN, MYC, and RAS, as well as DNA tumour viruses, tumour suppressor genes, including p53, retinoblastoma, BRCA1, BRCA2, VHL, F2FL, and essential material on angiogenesis and metastasis, apoptosis, cell cycle control, and gene therapy. - Includes much new data on this fast-moving field, including newly discovered oncogenes - Summarizes the clinical association and molecular properties of all known oncogenes and tumor suppression genes - Contains more than 2000 terms for reference and further research - Revised to included signaling pathways, apoptosis, and metastasis

Par-4 is a naturally occurring tumor suppressor. Studies have indicated that overexpression of Par-4 selectively induces apoptosis in cancer cells while leaving normal, health, cells unaffected. Mechanisms contributing to this cancer-selective action of Par-4 have been associated with PKA activation of intracellular Par-4 in cancer cells or GRP78 expression primarily on the surface of cancer cells. On the other hand, endogenous Par-4 sensitizes cells to the action of a broad range of apoptotic inducers acting via the extrinsic and intrinsic pathways. A number of binding partners of Par-4 have been identified and shown to regulate Par-4 function in cancer and other diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and major depression. Recent studies have recognized a number of natural products, dietary supplements, synthetic molecules and FDA-approved drugs that induce the secretion of Par-4 protein to cause apoptosis in primary or metastatic tumors, one of which is in clinical trials. More than 50 different laboratories worldwide are involved in Par-4 based research of this unique protein that has progressed from the bench to clinical trials. This second, companion volume will provide a comprehensive overview of Par-4’s role in cancer and other diseases. Chapters are written by leading researchers, and will be useful for a broad audience across the scientific community, particularly students and trainees, who are the next generation of scientists and clinicians to participate in new studies and discoveries on Par-4.

"Yet another cell and molecular biology book? At the very least, you would think that if I was going to write a textbook, I should write one in an area that really needs one instead of a subject that already has multiple excellent and definitive books. So, why write this book, then? First, it's a course that I have enjoyed teaching for many years, so I am very familiar with what a student really needs to take away from this class within the time constraints of a semester. Second, because it is a course that many students take, there is a greater opportunity to make an impact on more students' pocketbooks than if I were to start off writing a book for a highly specialized upper- level course. And finally, it was fun to research and write, and can be revised easily for inclusion as part of our next textbook, High School Biology."--Open Textbook Library.

This work serves as an introduction to the applications of molecular biology in the field of oncology. It provides a basic understanding of the genetic events involved in fully developed human cancer, including research into inherited and acquired gene defects initiating new neoplasms and the subsequent genetic alterations involved in tumor progression. Some of the specific topics explored include gene control, molecular therapy and antibodies, drug resistance, growth factors and receptors, and tumor biology. While intended primarily as an advanced text for oncologists, postgraduate molecular geneticists and molecular biologists, the book will certainly be of interest to other researchers who frequently encounter cancer in their practice.