The interface between molecular biology and cancer research.
During the last thirty years, cancer research has been a remarkably fruitful resource for molecular biologists. Numerous fundamental discoveries in basic biology have come out of research into the properties of cancer cells; for example, the discovery of reverse transcriptase, RNA splicing and the protein kinases. Recently, information has started to flow in the other direction, and we are at last beginning to see molecular biology yielding discoveries of practical importance in the management and control of human cancer. Some of the past and possible future interactions of molecular biology and cancer research are discussed in this paper.
Cairns
J
J
Clinical Trial Service Unit, Harkness Building, The Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, UK. j.cairns@ctsu.ox.ac.uk
D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008967:Molecular Biology; D009153:Mutagens; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology
D009153:Mutagens