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Chapter-51 Biochemistry of Cancer

BOOK TITLE: Textbook of Biochemistry for Medical Students

Author
1. Vasudevan DM
2. S Sreekumari
3. Vaidyanathan Kannan
ISBN
9789350250167
DOI
10.5005/jp/books/11359_51
Edition
6/e
Publishing Year
2011
Pages
14
Author Affiliations
1. Faculty of Medicine, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, (Amrita University), Kochi, Kerala, Formerly Principal, College of Medicine, Amrita, Kerala; Formerly, Dean, Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences, Gangtok, Sikkim, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham (Deemed University), Cochin, Kerala, E-mail: dmvasudevan@aims.amrita.edu, PG Programs and Research College of Medicine, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi, Kerala, India, College of Medicine, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi, Kerala, India; Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences, Gangtok, Sikkim, India
2. Jubilee Mission Medical College, Trissur, Kerala, Sree Gokulam Medical College and Research Foundation, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India, Jubilee Mission Medical College and Research Institute, Thrissur, Kerala, India, Government Medical College, Thrissur and Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India; Sree Gokulam Medical College and Research Foundation, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India; Jubilee Mission Medical College and Research Institute, Thrissur, Kerala, India
3. Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi, Kerala, India, Pushpagiri Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Thiruvalla, Kerala, India, Believers Church Medical College and Hospital, Thiruvalla, Kerala, India
Chapter keywords

Abstract

All cancers are multifactorial in origin. They include genetic, hormonal, metabolic, physical, chemical and environmental factors. Examples of physical carcinogens are X-ray, gamma-ray, ultraviolet ray. Examples of chemical mutagens are Aflatoxins, Methylcholanthrene, and Nicotine. Examples of antimutagens include Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Vitamin C and Curcumin. Example of viruses producing tumors in animals are Polyoma, SV 40, Gross, Rous, etc. Viruses possibly oncogenic in man are EBV, HPV and Hepatitis B. Genes capable of causing cancer are termed oncogenes, e.g. myc, src, ras, abl, erb-B, etc. Genes which normally protect the individual from getting a cancer are called Anti-oncogenes or Oncosuppressor, e.g. p53, pRB. Examples of oncofetal antigens are alpha-feto protein (AFP) in hepatomas and carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) in colon cancers. Tumor markers are useful for diagnosis and follow up of cancer chemotherapy, e.g. CA-125, VMA, Placental ALP, Prostate specific antigen.

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