Molecular lesions in cancer.

Newer methods of identifying biochemical events associated with cancer include recombinant DNA technology, monoclonal antibodies and improved analysis of nuclear and other cell functions to determine specific events which occur commonly in cancer cells. 'Onc-gene' products offer potential opportunities for new approaches to cancer treatment and the hope of inducing differentiation of cancer cells toward their normal counterparts. Studies on antigens which react with monoclonal antibodies offer the opportunity for 'epitope attack' which may be effected by improved drugs or by design of totally new drugs to bind to specific reactive sites. The complexity and pleiomorphism of cancer do not permit predictions as to whether these approaches will be more effective than the empirical approach to cancer treatment.