Molecular Mechanisms in Gastrointestinal Cancer

This book describes the molecular mechanisms of gastrointestinal neoplasia. The development of cancer is a multifactorial process. Several cellular mechanisms contribute to cancer progression, growth, and subsequent spread. This book reviews growth factors and gut hormones which effect gastrointestinal cancers. Signaling pathways that are important for GI malignancies such as protein kinase A, protein kinase C, protein tyrosine kinase, and mitogen-activated protein kinase are also discussed. Arachidonic acid/prostaglandin pathways as well as proteins that regulate the cell cycle and cell death and the role endogenesis plays in growth and metastasis are also covered in this book. It will be useful for clinicians and for basic investigators interested in GI cancer genetics and signaling since there is an emphasis on the clinical applications of these new findings that will impact upon early detection, prognostic determinations, and potential therapeutic targets. Over the last decade numerous discoveries have been made which will have a direct effect on future patient care. This text provides a concise up-to-date review of the molecular pathways contributing to GI cancers.