Tumor Biology

Providing both basic aspects and recent findings in the molecular and cellular biology of malignant tumours, this work focuses on the mechanisms by which normal and neoplastic cells proliferate, differentiate and undergo apoptosis. The differentiation of hemopoietic, epithelial and neuronal cells is treated with respect to growth factors, signal transduction, transcription factors and genes regulating the cell cycle and the commitment to maturation. The role of oncogenes in neoplastic cell growth and cell death is also covered. The book deals with the regulation of globin gene expression by the LCR locus and the mechanisms of RNA stability for iron-binding and other proteins. The induction of differentiation of neoplastic cells as an alternative approach to cancer therapy is also discussed.