Alison and Sarraf, Understanding Cancer, Cambridge University Press, 1997 What is “Cancer”

From L. J. Kleinsmith, Principles of Cancer Biology. Copyright (c) 2006 Pearson Benjamin Cummings. Cancer Trends Skin

Cancer Trends

From L. J. Kleinsmith, Principles of Cancer Biology. Copyright (c) 2006 Pearson Benjamin Cummings. Cancer Survival

From L. J. Kleinsmith, Principles of Cancer Biology. Copyright (c) 2006 Pearson Benjamin Cummings. Estimate of cancer-related deaths based upon environmental cause

From L. J. Kleinsmith, Principles of Cancer Biology. Copyright (c) 2006 Pearson Benjamin Cummings. p53 is a regulator of apoptosis External pathway – External pathway – induced by exposure to chemical signals released by other cells – are “death signals” Death signals activate death receptors Internal pathway – Internal pathway – induced by excessive DNA damage High accumulation of activated p53 Leaches from mitochondria & activates caspase cascade

From L. J. Kleinsmith, Principles of Cancer Biology. Copyright (c) 2006 Pearson Benjamin Cummings. Prevalence of p53 mutations in human cancers   p53 is the most commonly mutated gene in human cancers

Figure 16.9 The Biology of Cancer (© Garland Science 2007) Is Timing Everything? PanINs = pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasias are discrete stages in tumor progression

The Chemotherapy Industry  In 2003, worldwide market for products was ~$36.8 billion US  Currently, oncology-related products represent ~10% of total $430 billion worldwide market for pharmaceuticals (Pharmaceutical Therapeutic Categories Outlook: Comprehensive Study 375, S.G. Cowan & Co., NY, 2004)  Market expansion driven by: Increased therapeutic options Willingness to treat older patients High price of newer drugs  At present, more than 1,300 small U.S. biotech companies focused on molecular target drug development, >50% cancer focused