Molecular Biology of Cancer: Mechanisms, Targets, and Therapeutics offers a fresh approach to the study of the molecular basis of cancer. Opening with an overview of the key hallmarks of cancer as a disease state, the book explains the principal regulatory components through which cell division is controlled, and explains how their failure 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 that may offer possible solutions for the control of the disease.
Managed to find it at the local university library. Quite technical for a non-medical person like myself. But I did note many interesting aspects while reading the most digestible parts:
> The chemicals from sunscreen are cancer producing (photosentisized carcinogen)
> Vitamin D protects from cancer but sunscreen prevents production of it. Tanning is a self defence mechanism against excessive UV absorption
> Cooking meat in high temperatures creates carcinogenic compounds
> helicobacter pylori is a virus that is carcinogenic
> Skin peeling off after sunburn is a normal process that helps prevent skin cancer, by killing the cells that have had the dna modified. But then I wonder what happens when applying aloe vera gel, is it just that the cells killing response (apoptosis) is not initiated or is it that the DNA is repaired?
> If the genes that causes Brest cancer are activated in 50-80% cases, what do other that do not get it activated do differently?
> Mold produces cancer
> Tomatoes grapes and garlic have anti cancer properties
> Hpv infection is usually cleared by the immune system and does not affect a person’s health, but chronic infection over years causes cancer. The majority of hpv infections will be transient with a clearance time of 6-18 months.
I read the 5th edition that just came out in 2021. It was a well-structured textbook with clear writing, easy to understand figures, and thoughtful call-out boxes. It does not go into significant detail but it does lay a good foundation for additional advanced study. The book could probably benefit from an abbreviations list. Overall, good textbook.
I referred to this book to complete an essay on cancer metastasis and it was very helpful. All the knowledge of cancer is perfectly summarised and presented in a very user-friendly manner. I would definitely recommend this book for people looking to learn more about cancer.