Oncogenes, cancer and imaging.

Area of Science:

• Nuclear oncology
• Molecular oncology
• Radiochemistry and radiopharmacy

Background:

• Cancer arises from uncontrolled cell growth driven by genetic mutations in proto-oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes.
• Advances in molecular oncology, radiochemistry, and radiopharmacy are key drivers of progress in nuclear oncology.
• Understanding the molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis is crucial for developing targeted treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the fundamental molecular mechanisms underlying cancer development.
• To describe novel molecular probes designed for imaging cancer-related genetic and protein products.
• To highlight the role of peptide and nucleic acid chemistry in developing these probes.

Main Methods:

• Review of basic molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis.
• Description of emerging molecular probes, including antisense, aptamer, and peptidomimetic molecules.
• Focus on imaging transcriptional (messenger RNA) and translational (protein) products of oncogenes and anti-oncogenes.

Main Results:

• Identification of key genetic alterations (mutation, amplification, deletion, translocation) in cancer development.
• Development of highly specific molecular probes utilizing advances in peptide and nucleic acid chemistry.
• Potential for these probes to target oncogene and anti-oncogene products involved in carcinogenesis.

Conclusions:

• Nuclear oncology is rapidly evolving, driven by molecular biology and radiopharmaceutical advancements.
• New molecular probes offer precise tools for visualizing molecular targets in cancer.
• These developments pave the way for more targeted imaging and therapeutic strategies in oncology.