 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| • |
Almost
any mammalian organ and cell type can succumb to oncogenic
|
|
|
|
transformation,
giving rise to a bewildering array of clinical outcomes.
|
|
|
| • |
The
causes of cancer are many and varied, and include genetic
|
|
|
|
predisposition,
environmental influences, infectious agents and ageing.
|
|
These
transform normal cells into cancerous ones by derailing a wide
|
|
|
|
spectrum
of regulatory and downstream effector pathways. It is just
|
|
|
|
this
complexity that has hampered the development of effective and
|
|
|
specific
cancer therapies.
|
|
|
| • |
Any
attempt to provide a comprehensive overview of cancer-related
|
|
|
|
knowledge
would be futile — therefore the next two lectures will
|
|
|
focus
on topics undergoing particularly rapid progress.
|
|