Biology of Cancer Publisher



Aghamir SMK¹ ; Ghajar HA¹ ; Zadeh ZK² ; Taheri D^{1, 3} Show Affiliations
Source: Genetics and Epigenetics of Genitourinary Diseases Published:2024

Abstract

Cellular biology and molecular genetics have revolutionized the understanding of cancer. In recent years, next-generation sequencing has been used for the genetic analysis of tumors, which makes it possible to provide cancer patients with germline and tumor sequencing, opening the door to “precision medicine.” It allows doctors to tailor cancer management based on the specific somatic types and pathways that give rise to the tumor. Although there are currently few somatic changes that specifically alter treatment (discussed later in the chapter), clinical measurements are getting improved, and their impact on future cancer management is sure to be great. All cancers are genetic anomalies of somatic cells caused by abnormalities in cell division or loss of normal programmed cell death. A small part of the population is highly susceptible to inherited genetic pathogens that behave as Mendelian traits. However, environmental factors also play a significant role in causing cancer. This is clearly the case with “industrial cancers,” which result from long-term exposure of people to carcinogenic chemicals. For example, the association of bladder cancer with aniline dye, hepatic angiosarcoma with polyvinyl chloride process workers, and lung cancer with asbestos have been demonstrated. © 2025 Elsevier Inc. All rights are reserved including those for text and data mining AI training and similar technologies.