New prognostic factors in oncology

The relevant role played by reliable prognostic factors in oncology, at times more determining and useful than therapy, is stressed. The possibilities offered by the present biological, cellular and molecular information in this rapidly evolving field, are then considered. Factors that can play a prognostic role, dependent on the identification of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes (TSG) hyperexpression, mutation or deletion and factors related with the determination of some parameters of cell kinetics in the neoplastic tissue (DNA index, phase S), are examined. Based on some instances, the relevance of factors examined in clinical oncology, is evaluated.