Molecular Cancer Research

Molecular Cancer Research (məˈlɛkjʊlər ˈkænsər rɪˈsɜːrtʃ) is a branch of medical research that focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of cancer to develop effective treatments and preventive strategies. The term is derived from the Latin molecula, meaning "small mass", and the Greek karkinos, meaning "crab", which was used to describe cancer due to the crab-like spread of the disease in the body.

Overview

Molecular Cancer Research involves the study of the genetic, biochemical, and cellular processes that drive cancer development, progression, and metastasis. This includes research into oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, DNA repair, cell cycle control, apoptosis, angiogenesis, cancer stem cells, and cancer genomics.

Related Terms

Oncogenes: Genes that have the potential to cause cancer. When they are mutated or expressed at high levels, they can help turn a normal cell into a cancer cell.
Tumor Suppressor Genes: Genes that protect a cell from one step on the path to cancer. When this gene mutates to cause a loss or reduction in its function, the cell can progress to cancer.
DNA Repair: The collection of processes by which a cell identifies and corrects damage to the DNA molecules that encode its genome.
Cell Cycle Control: The process by which cells regulate their progression through the cell cycle—the series of events that lead to cell division.
Apoptosis: The process of programmed cell death that may occur in multicellular organisms.
Angiogenesis: The physiological process through which new blood vessels form from pre-existing vessels.
Cancer Stem Cells: Cancer cells that possess characteristics associated with normal stem cells, specifically the ability to give rise to all cell types found in a particular cancer sample.
Cancer Genomics: The study of the totality of DNA sequence and gene expression differences between tumour cells and normal host cells.