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Related Concept Videos

What is Cancer?02:12

What is Cancer?

Cells and tissues must meticulously coordinate their activities for the normal functioning of the human body. Therefore, they exhibit socially responsible behavior - resting, growing, dividing, differentiating, or dying - for the organism’s benefit. Cancer arises when cells divide uncontrollably and invade other tissues or organs.
Although people have known about cancer for centuries, it was only in 1761 that Giovanni Morgagni of Padua performed a detailed autopsy of patients who died from...
What is Cancer?02:12

What is Cancer?

Cells and tissues must meticulously coordinate their activities for the normal functioning of the human body. Therefore, they exhibit socially responsible behavior - resting, growing, dividing, differentiating, or dying - for the organism’s benefit. Cancer arises when cells divide uncontrollably and invade other tissues or organs.
Although people have known about cancer for centuries, it was only in 1761 that Giovanni Morgagni of Padua performed a detailed autopsy of patients who died from...
Cancer02:18

Cancer

Cancers arise due to mutations in genes involved in the regulation of cell division, which leads to unrestricted cell proliferation. Modern science and medicine have made great strides in the understanding and treatment of cancer, including eradicating cancer in some patients. However, there is still no cure for cancer. This is largely due to the fact that cancer is a large group of many diseases.
Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell02:21

Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell

Cancer arises from mutations in the critical genes that allow healthy cells to escape cell cycle regulation and acquire the ability to proliferate indefinitely. Though originating from a single mutation event in one of the originator cells, cancer progresses when the mutant cell lines continue to gain more and more mutations, and finally, become malignant. For example, chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) develops initially as a non-lethal increase in white blood cells, which progressively...
Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell02:21

Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell

Cancer arises from mutations in the critical genes that allow healthy cells to escape cell cycle regulation and acquire the ability to proliferate indefinitely. Though originating from a single mutation event in one of the originator cells, cancer progresses when the mutant cell lines continue to gain more and more mutations, and finally, become malignant. For example, chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) develops initially as a non-lethal increase in white blood cells, which progressively...
Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells02:53

Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells

Cancer cells accumulate genetic changes at an abnormally rapid rate due to the defects in the DNA repair mechanisms. From an evolutionary perspective, such genetic instability is advantageous for cancer development. Mutant cell lines accumulate a series of beneficial mutations that contribute to their progression into cancer.
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 18, 2026

A Cancer Cell Spheroid Assay to Assess Invasion in a 3D Setting
05:34

A Cancer Cell Spheroid Assay to Assess Invasion in a 3D Setting

Published on: November 20, 2015

Cancer.

Frederica P Perera1, Paolo Vineis

  • 1Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. fpp1@columbia.edu

IARC Scientific Publications
|September 25, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Molecular epidemiology uses biomarkers to understand cancer risk and prevention. Validating new biomarkers like gene methylation and expression is crucial for advancing cancer prevention strategies.

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Area of Science:

  • Epidemiology
  • Genetics
  • Biomarkers

Background:

  • Molecular epidemiology emerged in the 1980s to enhance cancer studies and prevention.
  • Early biomarkers improved understanding of genotoxic carcinogens, leading to risk reduction interventions.
  • Newer biomarkers (gene methylation, expression, proteomics, metabolomics) offer promise but require validation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the evolution and impact of molecular epidemiology in cancer research.
  • To emphasize the need for systematic validation of novel molecular biomarkers.
  • To underscore the potential of molecular epidemiology in achieving significant cancer prevention goals.

Main Methods:

  • Review of historical contributions of first-generation biomarkers in molecular epidemiology.
  • Discussion of emerging biomarkers including epigenetics, proteomics, and metabolomics.
  • Emphasis on applying established validation principles to new biomarkers.

Main Results:

  • First-generation biomarkers advanced understanding of environmental carcinogen risks.
  • Newer biomarkers show potential but lack adequate validation and clear causal roles.
  • Systematic validation is essential to realize the full potential of these advanced tools.

Conclusions:

  • Molecular epidemiology has significantly contributed to cancer prevention.
  • Rigorous validation of new molecular biomarkers is urgently needed.
  • Further development and validation can help achieve substantial reductions in cancer incidence and costs.