Molecular mechanisms involved in tumorigenesis and their surgical implications.

Our understanding of normal and malignant cell growth has rapidly advanced in the last two decades as new technologies have accelerated the ability to resolve the underlying molecular mechanisms. The speed and complexity of this advance, as well as the inadequate and confused nomenclature of molecular oncology, has made this field difficult to follow. Nevertheless, many future therapies will be targeted to a genomic level and clinicians will be called upon to communicate with basic scientists in implementing them. To facilitate the surgeon's part in this dialogue, we present a broad review of the molecular genetics of cancer. The selected bibliography contains many review articles by leading researchers in this field. Particular emphasis has been placed on the themes that are emerging, such as oncogenic mechanisms, tumor suppressor genes, signal transduction, the multistage concept of carcinogenesis, and molecular diagnostics and therapies.