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Gene fusions are generally thought to be causally associated with sarcomas and haematological cancers, but recent evidence has shown that they occur in all malignancies, and account for 20% of human cancer morbidity. This Review discusses the implications of this for cancer research.
The lessons learned from the clinical application of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors provide important insights for lung cancer therapies. What approaches might circumvent the rapid acquisition of resistance and increase the efficacy of targeted therapies in lung cancer and other epithelial cancers?
Cancer patients often experience cognitive changes after chemotherapy (sometimes called “chemo brain”). What are some possible molecular mechanisms for this detrimental side effect of cancer therapy?
The Salvador–Warts–Hippo (SWH) pathway is involved in tissue growth control in Drosophila melanogaster. There is increasing evidence that deregulation of this conserved pathway occurs in human tumours. What insights do the studies in Drosophila provide for human carcinogenesis?
As we have evolved, we have aquired several evolutionary traits that might increase our susceptibility to cancer development. Mel Greaves outlines the benefits of a Darwinian view of cancer biology, cause and treatment.
Transient protein–protein interactions occur in many cellular processes that are implicated in cancerous growth, such as cell-cycle transitions mediated by the cell division cycle 25 phosphatases. What are the issues that are encountered when considering these transient interactions as drug targets?
The microenvironment has a crucial role in cancer development, which suggests that microenvironmental targets should be investigated for chemoprevention. What are some of the potential targets and how might they be modulated?
G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) influence many steps in tumorigenesis, including proliferation, survival, angiogenesis, metastasis and evasion of the immune system. This Review provides an overview of the various roles of GPCRs in cancer and their potential as therapeutic targets.
The launch of phase '0' trials has generated much discussion in the cancer research community. This Perspective, written by scientists at the US National Cancer Institute, discusses the aims of these trials, gives some practical advice for conducting them and addresses several outstanding questions.
The term myelodysplastic syndromes covers various diseases that are caused by ineffective haematopoiesis in one or more lineages of the bone marrow. How do these diseases arise, and what are the best methods for treating these patients?
Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that regulate the immune response are now being clinically evaluated as anticancer agents. This Review discusses their progress to date and the possibilities for combining these antibodies with other cancer treatments.
A new generation of promising anti-mitotic therapies that target proteins with specific functions in mitosis has been developed. As these drugs enter phase I and II trials, what do we know about their mechanism of action and their therapeutic range, and which patients will benefit?
The Connectivity Map database aims to connect diseases with the genes that cause them and drugs that could treat them. How does this new resource work, and how can it be used by the cancer research community?
The identification of high-risk human papillomavirus types as a necessary cause of cervical cancer offers the possibility of improving cervical cancer detection and prevention. What uncertainties need to be clarified for these possibilities to be realized?
Recent data highlight the usefulness of the selective oestrogen-receptor modulators (SERMs) tamoxifen and raloxifene for the prevention of breast cancer. What have we learned about oestrogen modulation, and how can this inform the use of SERMs for both cancer therapy and prevention?
