Some aspects of cancer medicine

The role of molecular oncology in understanding the nature of the cancer cell, and as an aid to diagnosis and even therapy, is discussed and illustrated with examples from commonly occurring malignancies. The appreciation of the importance of cell biology in explaining why cells become resistant to anticancer drugs has developed rapidly, and examples are given. Cell biology and molecular biology contribute to cancer prevention, which is becoming a practical possibility. Haemopoietic growth factors make it possible to give more intensive chemotherapy treatments and to improve the survival rate in patients with chemoresponsive disease. Intensification, however, has to be balanced against the risk of both short-term and, more seriously, long-term toxicity.