Cancer research is basic research

Basic Research

Basic Research is an herbal supplement and cosmetics manufacturer based in Salt Lake City, Utah that distributes products through a large number of subsidiaries. In addition, their products are sold domestically and internationally through a number of high-end retailers. Dennis Gay is the...

 into cancer

Cancer

Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...

 in order to identify causes and develop strategies for prevention, diagnosis, treatments and cure.

Cancer research ranges from epidemiology, molecular bioscience to the performance of clinical trial

Clinical trial

Clinical trials are a set of procedures in medical research and drug development that are conducted to allow safety and efficacy data to be collected for health interventions...

s to evaluate and compare applications of the various cancer treatment. These applications include surgery

Surgery

Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...

, radiation therapy

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy , radiation oncology, or radiotherapy , sometimes abbreviated to XRT or DXT, is the medical use of ionizing radiation, generally as part of cancer treatment to control malignant cells.Radiation therapy is commonly applied to the cancerous tumor because of its ability to control...

, chemotherapy

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with an antineoplastic drug or with a combination of such drugs into a standardized treatment regimen....

, hormone therapy

Hormone therapy

Hormone therapy, or hormonal therapy is the use of hormones in medical treatment. Treatment with hormone antagonists may also referred to as hormonal therapy...

, Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a medical term defined as the "treatment of disease by inducing, enhancing, or suppressing an immune response". Immunotherapies designed to elicit or amplify an immune response are classified as activation immunotherapies. While immunotherapies that reduce or suppress are...

 and combined treatment modalities such as chemo-radiotherapy. Starting in the mid-1990s, the emphasis in clinical cancer research shifted towards therapies derived from biotechnology

Biotechnology

Biotechnology is a field of applied biology that involves the use of living organisms and bioprocesses in engineering, technology, medicine and other fields requiring bioproducts. Biotechnology also utilizes these products for manufacturing purpose...

 research, such as immunotherapy

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a medical term defined as the "treatment of disease by inducing, enhancing, or suppressing an immune response". Immunotherapies designed to elicit or amplify an immune response are classified as activation immunotherapies. While immunotherapies that reduce or suppress are...

 and gene therapy

Gene therapy

Gene therapy is the insertion, alteration, or removal of genes within an individual's cells and biological tissues to treat disease. It is a technique for correcting defective genes that are responsible for disease development...

.

Cause

This type of research involves many different disciplines including genetics, diet, environmental factors (i.e. chemical carcinogens). In regard to investigation of causes and potential targets for therapy, the route used starts with data obtained from clinical observations, enters basic research, and, once convincing and independently confirmed results are obtained, proceeds with clinical research, involving appropriately designed trials on consenting human subjects, with aim to test safety and efficiency of the therapeutic intervention method.
Important part of basic research is characterization of the potential function of mechanisms of carcinogenesis, in regard to the types of genetic and epigenetic changes that are associated with cancer development. The mouse is often used as a mammalian model for manipulation of the function of genes that play a role in tumor formation, while basic aspects of tumor initiation, such as mutagenesis, are assayed on cultures of bacteria and mammalian cells.

Important cell types involved in cancer growth

There are several different cell types that are critical to tumour growth. In particular Endothelial Progenitor Cells are a very important cell population in tumour blood vessel growth. This finding was demonstrated in the high impact factor journals of Science (2008) and Genes and Development (2007)which also showed that Endothelial Progenitor Cells are critical for metastasis and the angiogenesis. This importance of endothelial progenitor cells in tumour growth and angiogenesis has been confirmed by a recent publication in Cancer Research (August 2010). This seminal paper has demonstrated that endothelial progenitor cells can be marked using the Inhibitor of DNA Binding 1 (ID1). This novel finding meant that investigators were able to track endothelial progenitor cells from the bone marrow to the blood to the tumour-stroma and even incorporated in tumour vasculature. This finding of endothelial progenitor cells incorporated in tumour vasculature proves the importance of this cell type in blood vessel development in a tumour setting. Furthermore, ablation of the endothelial progenitor cells in the bone marrow lead to a significant decrease in tumour growth and vasculature development. Therefore endothelial progenitor cells are very important in tumour biology and present novel therapeutic targets.

Oncogenomics/Genes involved in cancer

The goal of oncogenomics

Oncogenomics

Oncogenomics is relatively new sub-field of genomics, which applies high throughput technologies to characterize genes associated with cancer. Oncogenomics is synonymous with "cancer genomics". Cancer is a genetic disease caused by accumulation of mutations to DNA leading to unrestrained cell...

 is to identify new oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes that may provide new insights into cancer diagnosis, predicting clinical outcome of cancers, and new targets for cancer therapies. As the Cancer Genome Project

Cancer Genome Project

The Cancer Genome Project, based at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, aims to identify sequence variants/mutations critical in the development of human cancers...

 stated in a 2004 review article, "a central aim of cancer research has been to identify the mutated genes that are causally implicated in oncogenesis (cancer genes)." The Cancer Genome Atlas

The Cancer Genome Atlas

The Cancer Genome Atlas is a project to catalogue genetic mutations responsible for cancer, using genome analysis techniques started in 2005...

 project is a related effort investigating the genomic changes associated with cancer, while the COSMIC cancer database

COSMIC cancer database

COSMIC is an online database of somatically acquired mutations found in human cancer. Somatic mutations are those that occur in non-germline cells that are not inherited by children...

 documents acquired genetic mutation

Mutation

In molecular biology and genetics, mutations are changes in a genomic sequence: the DNA sequence of a cell's genome or the DNA or RNA sequence of a virus. They can be defined as sudden and spontaneous changes in the cell. Mutations are caused by radiation, viruses, transposons and mutagenic...

s from hundreds of thousands of human cancer samples.

These large scale projects, involving about 350 different types of tumour, have identified ~130,000 mutation

Mutation

In molecular biology and genetics, mutations are changes in a genomic sequence: the DNA sequence of a cell's genome or the DNA or RNA sequence of a virus. They can be defined as sudden and spontaneous changes in the cell. Mutations are caused by radiation, viruses, transposons and mutagenic...

s in ~3000 genes

Gênes

Gênes is the name of a département of the First French Empire in present Italy, named after the city of Genoa. It was formed in 1805, when Napoleon Bonaparte occupied the Republic of Genoa. Its capital was Genoa, and it was divided in the arrondissements of Genoa, Bobbio, Novi Ligure, Tortona and...

 that have been mutated in the tumours. The majority occurred in 319 genes of which 286 were tumour supressor genes and 33 oncogene

Oncogene

An oncogene is a gene that has the potential to cause cancer. In tumor cells, they are often mutated or expressed at high levels.An oncogene is a gene found in the chromosomes of tumor cells whose activation is associated with the initial and continuing conversion of normal cells into cancer...

s.

Several hereditary factors can increase the chance of cancer-causing mutations, including the activation of oncogene

Oncogene

An oncogene is a gene that has the potential to cause cancer. In tumor cells, they are often mutated or expressed at high levels.An oncogene is a gene found in the chromosomes of tumor cells whose activation is associated with the initial and continuing conversion of normal cells into cancer...

s or the inhibition of tumor suppressor gene

Tumor suppressor gene

A tumor suppressor gene, or anti-oncogene, is a gene that protects a cell from one step on the path to cancer. When this gene is mutated to cause a loss or reduction in its function, the cell can progress to cancer, usually in combination with other genetic changes.-Two-hit hypothesis:Unlike...

s. The functions of various onco- and tumor suppressor genes can be disrupted at different stages of tumor progression. Mutations in such genes can be used to classify the malignancy of a tumor.

In later stages, tumors can develop a resistance to cancer treatment. The identification of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes is important to understand tumor progression and treatment success. The role of a given gene in cancer progression may vary tremendously, depending on the stage and type of cancer involved.

Genes and protein products that have been identified by at least two independent publications as being involved in cancer are:

ABI1,
ABL2

ABL2

Tyrosine-protein kinase ABL2 also known as Abelson-related gene is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the ABL2 gene.- Function :...

,
ACSL6

Long fatty acyl CoA synthetase

The Long chain fatty acyl-CoA synthetase enzyme is a member of the ligase family that activates the breakdown of complex fatty acids. Long chain fatty acyl-CoA synthetase plays a crucial role in intermediary metabolism by catalyzing the formation of fatty acyl-CoA by a two-step process proceeding...

,
AF1Q,
AF5Q31 (also known as MCEF

MCEF

MCEF or Major Cdk9-interacting elongation factor is a transcription factor related to Af4. It is the fourth member of the Af4 family of trancription factors, involved in numerous pathologies, including Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia , abnormal CNS development, breast cancer and azoospermia.Because...

),
AKT1

AKT1

RAC-alpha serine/threonine-protein kinase is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the AKT1 gene. Multiple alternatively spliced transcript variants have been found for this gene.- Function :...

,
ARNT,
ASPSCR1

ASPSCR1

Tether containing UBX domain for GLUT4 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ASPSCR1 gene.-Further reading:...

,
ATF1

ATF1

Cyclic AMP-dependent transcription factor ATF-1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ATF1 gene.-Interactions:ATF1 has been shown to interact with CSNK2A2, Casein kinase 2, alpha 1 and BRCA1. EWS,- External links :...

,
ATIC

Inosine monophosphate synthase

Bifunctional purine biosynthesis protein PURH is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ATIC gene.ATIC encodes an enzyme which generates inosine monophosphate from aminoimidazole carboxamide ribonucleotide.It has two functions:...

,
BCL10

BCL10

B-cell lymphoma/leukemia 10 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the BCL10 gene.-Interactions:BCL10 has been shown to interact with CARD10, CARD11, MALT1, TRAF2, IKBKG and CARD9.-Further reading:...

,
BFHD,
BIRC3,
BMPR1A

BMPR1A

The bone morphogenetic protein receptor, type IA also known as BMPR1A is a protein which in humans is encoded by the BMPR1A gene. BMPR1A has also been designated as CD292 .- Function :...

,
BTG1

BTG1

Protein BTG1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the BTG1 gene.-Interactions:BTG1 has been shown to interact with CNOT7, HOXB9, PRMT1 and CNOT8.-Further reading:...

,
CBFA2T1,
CBFA2T3

CBFA2T3

Protein CBFA2T3 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the CBFA2T3 gene.-Interactions:CBFA2T3 has been shown to interact with HDAC1, HDAC3, TCF3, LDB1, TAL1, RUNX1T1 and PRKAR2A.-Further reading:...

,
CBFB

CBFB

Core-binding factor subunit beta is a protein that in humans is encoded by the CBFB gene.-Further reading:...

,
CCND1

Cyclin

Cyclins are a family of proteins that control the progression of cells through the cell cycle by activating cyclin-dependent kinase enzymes.- Function :...

,
CDC2,
CDK4,
CHIC2,
CHN1,
COPEB,
COX6C

COX6C

Cytochrome c oxidase subunit 6C is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the COX6C gene.-Further reading:...

,
CTNNB1

Catenin

Catenins are proteins found in complexes with cadherin cell adhesion molecules of animal cells. The first two catenins that were identified became known as alpha-catenin and beta-catenin. Alpha-catenin can bind to beta-catenin and can also bind actin. Beta-catenin binds the cytoplasmic domain of...

,
CYLD,
DDB2

DDB2

DNA damage-binding protein 2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the DDB2 gene.-Interactions:DDB2 has been shown to interact with CUL4A, CUL4B and DDB1.-External Links:* -Further reading:...

,
DDIT3,
DEK

DEK (gene)

Protein DEK is a protein that in humans is encoded by the DEK gene.-Interactions:DEK has been shown to interact with TFAP2A.-Further reading:...

,
Eif4a

Eif4a

The eukaryotic initiation factor-4A family consists of 3 closely related proteins EIF4A1, EIF4A2, and EIF4A3. These factors are required for the binding of mRNA to 40S ribosomal subunits...

,
EIF4A2

EIF4A2

Eukaryotic initiation factor 4A-II is a protein that in humans is encoded by the EIF4A2 gene.-Further reading:...

,
EPS15

EPS15

Epidermal growth factor receptor substrate 15 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the EPS15 gene.-Interactions:EPS15 has been shown to interact with REPS2, HGS, EPN1, CRK and HRB.-Further reading:...

,
ERCC2

ERCC2

ERCC2, or XPD is a protein involved in transcription-coupled nucleotide excision repair.The XPD gene encodes for a 2.3-kb mRNA containing 22 exons and 21 introns. The XPD protein is a 760 amino acids polypeptide with a size of 87kDa...

,
ERCC3,
ERCC5

ERCC5

DNA repair protein complementing XP-G cells is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ERCC5 gene.-External links:* -Further reading:...

,
ERG

ERG (gene)

Transcriptional regulator ERG is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ERG gene . ERG is a member of the ETS family of transcription factors.- Function :...

,
ETV4

ETV4

ETS translocation variant 4 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ETV4 gene....

,
ETV6

ETV6

ETV6 is an oncogene.-Interactions:ETV6 has been shown to interact with Grb2, FLI1 and HTATIP.-See also:* TEL-JAK2Mouse Mutant Alleles for Etv6 Marker Symbol for Mouse Gene. This symbol is assigned to the genomic locus by the...

,
EWSR1,
EXT1

EXT1

Exostosin-1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the EXT1 gene.-External links:*...

,
EXT2

EXT2 (gene)

Exostosin-2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the EXT2 gene.-Interactions:EXT2 has been shown to interact with TRAP1.-External links:*...

,
FANCC,
FANCG

FANCG

Fanconi anemia group G protein is a protein that in humans is encoded by the FANCG gene.-Interactions:FANCG has been shown to interact with FANCF, FANCA, FANCE and BRCA2.-Further reading:...

,
FGFR1OP

FGFR1OP

FGFR1 oncogene partner is a protein that in humans is encoded by the FGFR1OP gene.-Further reading:...

,
FGFR3

FGFR3

Fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the FGFR3 gene. FGFR3 has also been designated as CD333 .-Structure and function:-Disease linkage:...

,
FH,
FIP1L1

FIP1L1

Pre-mRNA 3'-end-processing factor FIP1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the FIP1L1 gene.-Further reading:...

,
FUS

FUS

RNA-binding protein FUS is a protein that in humans is encoded by the FUS gene.- Function :The N-terminal end of FUS appears to be involved in transcriptional activation, while the C-terminal end is involved in protein and RNA binding...

,
GAS7

GAS7

Growth arrest-specific protein 7 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the GAS7 gene.-Further reading:...

,
GATA1

GATA1

Erythroid transcription factor also known as GATA-binding factor 1 or GATA-1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the GATA1 gene....

,
GMPS,
GOLGA5

GOLGA5

Golgin subfamily A member 5 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the GOLGA5 gene.-Further reading:...

,
GPC (gene),
GPHN

GPHN

GPHN is a human gene that encodes the protein gephyrin.-Interactions:GPHN has been shown to interact with Mammalian target of rapamycin and ARHGEF9.-Further reading:...

,
HIST1H4I

HIST1H4I

Histone H4 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the HIST1H4I gene.-Further reading:...

,
HRAS

HRAS

GTPase HRas also known as transforming protein p21 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the HRAS gene. The HRAS gene is located on the short arm of chromosome 11 at position 15.5, from base pair 522,241 to base pair 525,549.- Function :...

,
HSPCA,
IL21R,
IIRF4,
KRAS2,
LASP1

LASP1

LIM and SH3 domain protein 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the LASP1 gene.-Further reading:...

,
LCP1

LCP1

Plastin-2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the LCP1 gene.-Further reading:...

,
LHFP

LHFP

Lipoma HMGIC fusion partner is a protein that in humans is encoded by the LHFP gene.-Further reading:...

,
LMO2

LMO2

LIM domain only 2 , also known as LMO2, is a protein which in humans is encoded by the LMO2 gene.- Function :LMO2 encodes a cysteine-rich, two LIM domain protein that is required for yolk sac erythropoiesis. The LMO2 protein has a central and crucial role in hematopoietic development and is highly...

,
LYL1

LYL1

Protein lyl-1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the LYL1 gene.-Interactions:LYL1 has been shown to interact with TCF3 and NFKB1....

,
MADH4,
MEIS1

MEIS1

Homeobox protein Meis1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the MEIS1 gene.-Interactions:MEIS1 has been shown to interact with PBX1 and HOXA9.- External links :...

,
MLF1

MLF1

Myeloid leukemia factor 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the MLF1 gene.-Further reading:...

,
MLH1

MLH1

MutL homolog 1, colon cancer, nonpolyposis type 2 , also known as MLH1, is a human gene located on Chromosome 3. It is a gene commonly associated with hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer.It can also be associated with Turcot syndrome....

,
MLLT3

MLLT3

Protein AF-9 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the MLLT3 gene.-Further reading:...

,
MLLT6,
MNAT1

MNAT1

CDK-activating kinase assembly factor MAT1 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the MNAT1 gene.-Interactions:MNAT1 has been shown to interact with POU2F1, MTA1, Cyclin H, P53, Estrogen receptor alpha, MCM7 and Cyclin-dependent kinase 7....

,
MSF,
MSH2

MSH2

MSH2 is a gene commonly associated with Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer.-Interactions:MSH2 has been shown to interact with Exonuclease 1, MSH3, MSH6, CHEK2, MAX, Ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3 related and BRCA1.-Further reading:...

,
MSN,
MUTYH

MUTYH

MUTYH is a human gene encoding a DNA glycosylase, MUTYH glycosylase, involved in oxidative DNA damage repair. The enzyme excises adenine bases from the DNA backbone at sites where adenine is inappropriately paired with guanine, cytosine, or 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine, a major oxidatively damaged DNA...

,
MYC,
NCOA4

NCOA4

Nuclear receptor coactivator 4 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the NCOA4 gene.-Interactions:NCOA4 has been shown to interact with Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma and Androgen receptor.-Further reading:...

,
NF2

Merlin (protein)

Merlin is a cytoskeletal protein. In humans, it is a tumor suppressor protein involved in Neurofibromatosis type II. Sequence data reveal its similarity to the ERM protein family....

,
NPM1

NPM1

Nucleophosmin , also known as nucleolar phosphoprotein B23 or numatrin, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the NPM1 gene.- Function :...

,
NRAS

Neuroblastoma RAS viral oncogene homolog

NRAS is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the NRAS gene. It was discovered by researchers at the Institute of Cancer Research, funded by the Imperial Cancer Research Fund , and named NRAS, for its initial identification in human neuroblastoma cells.-External links:*...

,
PAX8

PAX8

Paired box gene 8, also known as PAX8, is a protein which in humans is encoded by the PAX8 gene.- Function :This gene is a member of the paired box family of transcription factors. Members of this gene family typically encode proteins which contain a paired box domain, an octapeptide, and a...

,
PCBD,
PDGFB

PDGFB

Platelet-derived growth factor subunit B is a protein that in humans is encoded by the PDGFB gene.-Further reading:...

,
PHOX2B

PHOX2B

Paired-like homeobox 2b , also known as neuroblastoma Phox , is a protein that in humans is encoded by the PHOX2B gene located on chromosome 4....

,
PIM1

PIM1

Proto-oncogene serine/threonine-protein kinase Pim-1 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the PIM1 gene.Pim-1 is a proto-oncogene which encodes for the serine/threonine kinase of the same name. The pim-1 oncogene was first described in relation to murine T-cell lymphomas, as it was the locus...

,
PLK2

PLK2

Serine/threonine-protein kinase PLK2 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the PLK2 gene.-Further reading:...

,
PNUTL1,
POU2F1

POU2F1

POU domain, class 2, transcription factor 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the POU2F1 gene.-Interactions:POU2F1 has been shown to interact with SNAPC4, Ku80, Glucocorticoid receptor, Sp1 transcription factor, NPAT, POU2AF1, Host cell factor C1, TATA binding protein, RELA, Nuclear...

,
PPARG

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma , also known as the glitazone receptor, or NR1C3 is a type II nuclear receptor that in humans is encoded by the PPARG gene.Two isoforms of PPARG are detected in the human and in the mouse: PPAR-γ1 and...

,
PRCC

PRCC (gene)

Proline-rich protein PRCC is a protein that in humans is encoded by the PRCC gene.-Further reading:...

,
PRKACB

PRKACB

cAMP-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit beta is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the PRKACB gene.-Interactions:PRKACB has been shown to interact with Ryanodine receptor 2 and Low affinity nerve growth factor receptor.-Further reading:...

,
PRKAR1A

PRKAR1A

cAMP-dependent protein kinase type I-alpha regulatory subunit is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the PRKAR1A gene.- Function :cAMP is a signaling molecule important for a variety of cellular functions. cAMP exerts its effects by activating the cAMP-dependent protein kinase A , which...

,
PTEN

PTEN (gene)

Phosphatase and tensin homolog is a protein that, in humans, is encoded by the PTEN gene. Mutations of this gene are a step in the development of many cancers....

,
PTPN11

PTPN11

Tyrosine-protein phosphatase non-receptor type 11 also known as protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1D or protein-tyrosine phosphatase 2C is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the PTPN11 gene. PTPN11 is a protein tyrosine phosphatase Shp2.PTPN11 is a member of the protein tyrosine phosphatase ...

,
RABEP1

RABEP1

Rab GTPase-binding effector protein 1 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the RABEP1 gene.. It belongs to rabaptin protein family.-Interactions:RABEP1 has been shown to interact with GGA2, RAB4A, RAB5A, AP1G1 and GGA1.-Further reading:...

,
RAD51L1

RAD51L1

DNA repair protein RAD51 homolog 2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the RAD51L1 gene.-Further reading:...

,
RAP1GDS1

RAP1GDS1

Rap1 GTPase-GDP dissociation stimulator 1 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the RAP1GDS1 gene.-Interactions:RAP1GDS1 has been shown to interact with KIFAP3, HRAS and RHOA.-Further reading:...

,
RARA

Retinoic acid receptor alpha

Retinoic acid receptor alpha , also known as NR1B1 is a nuclear receptor that in humans is encoded by the RARA gene.- Function :...

,
RB1,
RET

RET proto-oncogene

The RET proto-oncogene encodes a receptor tyrosine kinase for members of the glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor family of extracellular signalling molecules....

,
RHOH

RhoH

RhoH is a small signaling G protein , and is a member of the Rac subfamily of the family Rho family of GTPases. It is encoded by the gene RHOH.-Gene:...

,
RPL22

RPL22

60S ribosomal protein L22 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the RPL22 gene.-Further reading:...

,
SBDS

SBDS

Ribosome maturation protein SBDS is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SBDS gene.-External Links:* -Further reading:...

,
SDHB

SDHB

Succinate dehydrogenase [ubiquinone] iron-sulfur subunit, mitochondrial also known as iron-sulfur subunit of complex II is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SDHB gene....

,
SEPTIN6,
SET

Protein SET

Protein SET is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SET gene.-Interactions:Protein SET has been shown to interact with TAF1A, NME1, CDK5R1, Acidic leucine-rich nuclear phosphoprotein 32 family member A and KLF5.-Further reading:...

,
SH3GL1

SH3GL1

Endophilin-A2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SH3GL1 gene.-Further reading:...

,
SS18L1

SS18L1

SS18-like protein 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SS18L1 gene.-Interactions:SS18L1 has been shown to interact with CREB-binding protein.-Further reading:...

,
SSX1

SSX1

Protein SSX1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SSX1 gene.-Further reading:...

,
SSX2

SSX2

Protein SSX2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SSX2 gene.-Further reading:...

,
SSX4

SSX4 (gene)

Protein SSX4 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SSX4 gene.-Further reading:...

,
STAT3

STAT3

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 also known as STAT3 is a transcription factor which in humans is encoded by the STAT3 gene.- Function :The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the STAT protein family...

,
TAF15

TAF15

TATA-binding protein-associated factor 2N is a protein that in humans is encoded by the TAF15 gene.-Interactions:TAF15 has been shown to interact with TAF7, POLR2C, TAF5, POLR2E, TAF13, SAFB, TAF11, TATA binding protein and POLR2G.-Further reading:...

,
TCF12

TCF12

Transcription factor 12 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the TCF12 gene.-External links:...

,
TCL1A

TCL1A

T-cell leukemia/lymphoma protein 1A is a protein that in humans is encoded by the TCL1A gene.-Interactions:TCL1A has been shown to interact with AKT1 and AKT2.-Further reading:...

,
TFE3

TFE3

Transcription factor E3 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the TFE3 gene.-Interactions:TFE3 has been shown to interact with E2F3, Mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 3 and Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor.-Further reading:...

,
TFEB

TFEB

Transcription factor EB is a protein that in humans is encoded by the TFEB gene.- Function :TFEB is a master gene for lysosomal biogenesis. This transcription factor coordinates expression of lysosomal genes and genes involved in autophagy...

,
TFG

TFG (gene)

Protein TFG is a protein that in humans is encoded by the TFG gene.-Interactions:TFG has been shown to interact with PLSCR1.-Further reading:...

,
TFPT

TFPT

TCF3 fusion partner is a protein that in humans is encoded by the TFPT gene.-Further reading:...

,
TFRC

TFRC

Transferrin receptor protein 1 also known as is a protein that in humans is encoded by the TFRC gene...

,
TNFRSF6,
TP53,
TPM3,
TPM4

TPM4

Tropomyosin alpha-4 chain is a protein that in humans is encoded by the TPM4 gene.-Further reading:...

,
TRIP11

TRIP11

Thyroid receptor-interacting protein 11 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the TRIP11 gene.-Interactions:TRIP11 has been shown to interact with Retinoblastoma protein and Thyroid hormone receptor alpha.-Further reading:...

,
VHL,
WAS,
WT1

WT1

Wilms tumor protein is a protein that in humans is encoded by the WT1 gene.- Function :This gene encodes a transcription factor that contains four zinc finger motifs at the C-terminus and a proline / glutamine-rich DNA-binding domain at the N-terminus...

,
ZNF198,
ZNF278,
ZNF384

ZNF384

Zinc finger protein 384 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ZNF384 gene....

,
ZNFN1A1

Treatment

Current topics of cancer treatment research include:

• Boosting the immune system
• Anti-cancer vaccine
  Cancer vaccine
  The term cancer vaccine refers to a vaccine that either prevents infections with cancer-causing viruses, treats existing cancer or prevents the development of cancer in certain high risk individuals...
  
   — based on exposing some cancer cells extracted from a tumour to UV rays for 24 hrs then injecting them back into the organism, this approach has already been successful on rats.
• Chemotherapy
  Chemotherapy
  Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with an antineoplastic drug or with a combination of such drugs into a standardized treatment regimen....
  
  
• Gene therapy
  Gene therapy
  Gene therapy is the insertion, alteration, or removal of genes within an individual's cells and biological tissues to treat disease. It is a technique for correcting defective genes that are responsible for disease development...
  
  
• Photodynamic therapy
  Photodynamic therapy
  Photodynamic therapy is used clinically to treat a wide range of medical conditions, including malignant cancers, and is recognised as a treatment strategy which is both minimally invasive and minimally toxic...
  
  
• Radiation therapy
  Radiation therapy
  Radiation therapy , radiation oncology, or radiotherapy , sometimes abbreviated to XRT or DXT, is the medical use of ionizing radiation, generally as part of cancer treatment to control malignant cells.Radiation therapy is commonly applied to the cancerous tumor because of its ability to control...
  
  
• Reoviridae
  Reoviridae
  Reoviridae is a family of viruses that can affect the gastrointestinal system and respiratory tract. Viruses in the family Reoviridae have genomes consisting of segmented, double-stranded RNA...
  
   (Reolysin drug therapy)
• Targeted therapy
  Targeted therapy
  Targeted therapy is a type of medication that blocks the growth of cancer cells by interfering with specific targeted molecules needed for carcinogenesis and tumor growth, rather than by simply interfering with rapidly dividing cells...
  
  

Dichloroacetate

In January 2007 researchers of the University of Alberta

University of Alberta

The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...

 reported preliminary results of dichloroacetate (DCA) causing regression in several cancers in vitro, including lung, breast and brain tumors. Since the compound DCA itself cannot be patented it could be an inexpensive alternative to other treatments, depending of course on whether the method of using DCA in the treatment of cancer is patentable. Clinical use of DCA will require further public/private investment for clinical trials. The initial research was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research

Canadian Institutes of Health Research

Canadian Institutes of Health Research is the major federal agency responsible for funding health research in Canada. It is the successor to the Medical Research Council of Canada. It aims to create new health knowledge, and to translate that knowledge from the research setting into real world...

.

Vaccines

• HBV hepatitis "B" virus which leads to liver cancer.
• HPV vaccine
  HPV vaccine
  The human papilloma virus vaccine prevents infection with certain species of human papillomavirus associated with the development of cervical cancer, genital warts, and some less common cancers...
  
   human papillovirus HPV-16, HPV-18 for cervical cancer, genital warts, anal, vulvar, vaginal, penile, and HPV oral cancers.
• Canine Melanoma Vaccine
• Oncophage
  Oncophage
  Oncophage is a personalized cancer vaccine by the American company Antigenics Inc. that is currently evaluated in multiple clinical trials. It has been granted fast track and orphan drug designations from the US Food and Drug Administration for kidney cancer, metastatic melanoma, and...
  
  

Other methods

• Some research may indicate a connection between Vitamin D
  Vitamin D
  Vitamin D is a group of fat-soluble secosteroids. In humans, vitamin D is unique both because it functions as a prohormone and because the body can synthesize it when sun exposure is adequate ....
  
   deficiency and cancer.

Issues

Newsweek

Newsweek

Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...

 magazine published an article criticising the use of lab rats on cancer research because even though researchers frequently manage to cure lab mice transplanted with human tumor

Tumor

A tumor or tumour is commonly used as a synonym for a neoplasm that appears enlarged in size. Tumor is not synonymous with cancer...

s, few of those achievements are relevant to humanity. Oncologist Paul Bunn, from the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer said: "We put a human tumor under the mouse's skin, and that microenvironment doesn't reflect a person's—the blood vessels, inflammatory cells or cells of the immune system". Fran Visco founder of the National Breast Cancer Coalition

National Breast Cancer Coalition

On September 20, 2010, the National Breast Cancer Coalition , a grassroots advocacy organization that seeks to improve public policies surrounding breast cancer research, diagnosis and treatment, launched Breast Cancer Deadline 2020, a call to action for policymakers, researchers, breast cancer...

 completed:"We cure cancer in animals all the time, but not in people."

Funding

Some methods, like Dichloroacetate and Coley's Toxins

Coley's Toxins

Coley's toxins is a mixture consisting of killed bacteria of species Streptococcus pyogenes and Serratia marcescens, named after William Coley, a surgical oncologist who developed the mixture in the late 19th century as a treatment for cancer.- History :Observations of...

, cannot be patented and thus would not garner the investment interest towards research from the pharmaceutical industry. Many claim that this is why such research is often slow moving, as it lacks funding from pharmaceutical companies.

Innovation

The organizational behavior of the large institutions and corporations that research cancer, may unduly favor low-risk research into small incremental advancements, over innovative research that might discover radically new and dramatically improved therapy. Breakthrough-ideas are frequently scoffed at by the powers that be.

Distributed computing

One can share computer time for distributed cancer research projects like Help Conquer Cancer

Help Conquer Cancer

Help Conquer Cancer is a distributed computing project that runs on the BOINC platform. It is a joint project of the Ontario Cancer Institute and the Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute-Project Purpose:...

. World Community Grid

World Community Grid

World Community Grid is an effort to create the world's largest public computing grid to tackle scientific research projects that benefit humanity...

 also had a project called Help Defeat Cancer

Help Defeat Cancer

The Help Defeat Cancer project ran on World Community Grid from July 20, 2006 to April 2007. It seeks to improve the ability of medical professionals to determine the best treatment options for patients with cancers of the breast, head, or neck. The project worked by identifying visual patterns in...

. Other related projects include the Folding@Home

Folding@home

Folding@home is a distributed computing project designed to use spare processing power on personal computers to perform simulations of disease-relevant protein folding and other molecular dynamics, and to improve on the methods of doing so...

 and Rosetta@home

Rosetta@home

Rosetta@home is a distributed computing project for protein structure prediction on the Berkeley Open Infrastructure for Network Computing platform, run by the Baker laboratory at the University of Washington...

 projects.

Organizations

• Cancer organizations
• American Association for Cancer Research
  American Association for Cancer Research
  The American Association for Cancer Research is the world's oldest and largest professional association to advancing cancer research. Based in Philadelphia, AACR focuses on all aspects of cancer research including basic, clinical and translational research into the etiology, prevention, diagnosis,...
  
  
• American Brain Tumor Association
  American Brain Tumor Association
  The American Brain Tumor Association , founded in 1973, was the first national, non-profit organization dedicated exclusively to brain tumor research and patient-family education and support...
  
  
• American Society of Clinical Oncology
  American Society of Clinical Oncology
  The American Society of Clinical Oncology is the world's leading professional organization representing physicians of all oncology subspecialties who care for people with cancer. Founded in 1964 by Drs...
  
  
• Australian Cancer Research Foundation
  Australian Cancer Research Foundation
  The Australian Cancer Research Foundation is an Australian not-for-profit organisation which awards grants to cancer research organisations, specifically for high-end equipment purchases and infrastructure development.-History and structure:...
  
  
• Bath Cancer Research Unit
• Brain Tumor Foundation of Canada
• Brain Tumor Funders' Collaborative
  Brain Tumor Funders' Collaborative
  The Brain Tumor Funders’ Collaborative is a partnership of nine private organizations designed to bridge the gap that can sometimes prevent laboratory science from yielding new medical treatments.-History:...
  
  
• CACA
  Caca
  In ancient Roman religion and myth, Caca is the sister of Cacus, the son of Vulcan who stole cattle from Hercules during the course of his western labors...
  
  
• Canadian Cancer Society
  Canadian Cancer Society
  The Canadian Cancer Society is a national, community-based charitable organization of volunteers whose mission is to eradicate cancer and enhance the quality of life of those living with the disease....
  
  
• Cancer Research
  Cancer Research (journal)
  Cancer Research is a scientific journal published by the American Association for Cancer Research. Its focus is original research papers relating to cancer and cancer-related biomedical sciences. The first edition was published in 1941.-Indexing:...
  
  
• Cancer Research Foundation
  Cancer Research Foundation
  The Cancer Research Foundation is a tax-exempt, Public Charity based in the United States created exclusively to raise funds to further and support cancer research...
  
  
• Cancer Research Institute, Inc.
• Cancer Research UK
  Cancer Research UK
  Cancer Research UK is a cancer research and awareness charity in the United Kingdom, formed on 4 February 2002 by the merger of The Cancer Research Campaign and the Imperial Cancer Research Fund. Its aim is to reduce the number of deaths from cancer. As the world's largest independent cancer...
  
  
• Childhood Cancer Research Group
  Childhood Cancer Research Group
  The Childhood Cancer Research Group is part of the University Department of Paediatrics at the University of Oxford, England. The CCRG maintains the National Registry of Childhood Tumours , which is said to be the largest childhood cancer registry in the world.-Research:Topics of research at the...
  
  
• Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation
  Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation
  The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation is a not-for-profit cancer research organization focused "discovering the talent to discover the cure." The Foundation states that its goals are to: "identify the best and brightest early career scientists in cancer research, accelerate the translation...
  
  
• Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center
  Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center
  The Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center is the largest National Cancer Institute designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in the nation. Founded in 1998, DF/HCC is an inter-institutional research enterprise that unites all of the cancer research efforts of the Harvard affiliated community...
  
  
• E-Foundation for Cancer Research
  E-Foundation for Cancer Research
  E-Foundation for Cancer Research is online and non-profit foundation for cancer research.This foundation provides free,professional cancer research courses that aim to enhance the knowledge and skills of health professionals and anyone concerned with the care of cancer patients.- Distance Learning...
  
  
• Friends of Cancer Research
  Friends of Cancer Research
  Friends of Cancer Research Friends of Cancer Research is a non-profit organization dedicated to accelerating the nation’s progress toward prevention and treatment of cancer by mobilizing public support for cancer research funding and providing education on key public policy issues.-Mission:Friends...
  
  
• Gateway for Cancer Research
  Gateway for Cancer Research
  The Gateway for Cancer Research is a non-profit organization which was founded with the vision of saving lives and improving the life of cancer patients. The funds raised are promised to funding research that provides new treatment options for today's cancer patients by transforming cancer...
  
  
• German Cancer Research Center
  German Cancer Research Center
  The German Cancer Research Center , is a national cancer research center based in Heidelberg, Germany...
  
  
• Grassroots Cancer Research Foundation
• Institute of Cancer Research
  Institute of Cancer Research
  The Institute of Cancer Research is a cancer research institute located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. The ICR was founded in 1909 as a research department of the Royal Marsden Hospital and joined the University of London in 2003...
  
  
• International Agency for Research on Cancer
  International Agency for Research on Cancer
  The International Agency for Research on Cancer is an intergovernmental agency forming part of the World Health Organisation of the United Nations....
  
  
• International Cancer Genome Consortium
  International Cancer Genome Consortium
  The International Cancer Genome Consortium is a voluntary scientific organization that provides a forum for collaboration among the world's leading cancer and genomic researchers....
  
  
• Israel Cancer Research Fund
• James S. McDonnell Foundation
  James S. McDonnell Foundation
  The James S. McDonnell Foundation was founded in 1950 by aerospace pioneer James S. McDonnell. It was established to "improve the quality of life," and does so by contributing to the generation of new knowledge through its support of research and scholarship. Originally called the McDonnell...
  
  
• Jimmy V. Foundation
• Joe Andruzzi
  Joe Andruzzi
  Joseph Dominick Andruzzi is a former American football offensive guard. In May 2007 he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.-College career:...
  
   Foundation
• Lance Armstrong Foundation
  Lance Armstrong Foundation
  The Lance Armstrong Foundation is a United States 501 nonprofit organization that provides support for people affected by cancer, founded in 1997 by cancer survivor and champion cyclist Lance Armstrong. The LAF states that its mission is 'to inspire and empower' cancer sufferers and their families...
  
  
• Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research
  Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research
  The Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Ltd is a global non-profit medical research institute that undertakes laboratory and clinical research into cancer, conducting and sponsoring its own early-phase clinical trials to investigate its discoveries....
  
  
• Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
  Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
  Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center is a cancer treatment and research institution founded in 1884 as the New York Cancer Hospital...
  
  
• National Brain Tumor Society
  National Brain Tumor Society
  The National Brain Tumor Society is a non-profit organization with offices in Watertown, Massachusetts and San Francisco, California. It was formed in 2008 by the merger of the National Brain Tumor Foundation and the Brain Tumor Society...
  
  
• National Cancer Institute
  National Cancer Institute
  The National Cancer Institute is part of the National Institutes of Health , which is one of 11 agencies that are part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The NCI coordinates the U.S...
  
  
• National Foundation for Cancer Research
  National Foundation for Cancer Research
  The National Foundation for Cancer Research was founded in 1973 on the initiative of Albert Szent-Györgyi and Franklin Salisbury as a non-profit organization under U.S. tax code 501. Over the past 30 years, NFCR has provided more than $200 million in support of discovery-oriented basic science...
  
  
• National Institute of Health
• NCI-designated Cancer Center
  NCI-designated Cancer Center
  NCI-designated Cancer Centers are a group of approximately 66 cancer research institutions in the United States supported by the National Cancer Institute....
  
  
• Northern California Cancer Center
  Northern California Cancer Center
  On February 17, 2010, the Northern California Cancer Center officially changed its name to the Cancer Prevention Institute of California . The new name was chosen to more accurately convey the organization’s focus on cancer prevention and its statewide coverage. - External links :*...
  
  
• Save A Brain Foundation
  Save A Brain Foundation
  The Save A Brain Foundation is a is a 501 non-profit organization with the goals of raising awareness of Glioblastoma Multiforme, the most common type of primary brain tumor, as well as raising money in hopes of finding a cure for this terminal disease...
  
  
• Terry Fox Foundation
• TGen Drug Development (TD2)
• TGen
• Tower Cancer Research Foundation
  Tower Cancer Research Foundation
  Tower Cancer Research Foundation is a 5013 non-profit organization dedicated to clinical research, patient support and community education...
  
  
• United Devices Cancer Research Project
• University of Florida Cancer Hospital
  University of Florida Cancer Hospital
  The University of Florida Cancer Hospital is an Academic Cancer Center in Gainesville, FL. The 200 bedroom complex focuses on producing basic laboratory findings that will ultimately be used for preventive therapies for cancers.-Background:...
  
  
• USCACA
• Walker Cancer Research Institute
  Walker Cancer Research Institute
  -External links:**...
  
  

See also

• Alternative cancer treatment
• Anticancer Research
  Anticancer Research
  Anticancer Research is a peer-reviewed medical journal published by the International Institute of Anticancer Research, addressing experimental and clinical topics in oncology.- External links :*...
  
  (journal)
• Atlas of Genetics and Cytogenetics in Oncology and Haematology
  Atlas of Genetics and Cytogenetics in Oncology and Haematology
  The Atlas of Genetics and Cytogenetics in Oncology and Haematology is a collection of resources on genes, chromosomes anomalies, leukemias, solid tumours, and cancer-prone diseases...
  
  
• Cancer epidemiology
• Clinical trial
  Clinical trial
  Clinical trials are a set of procedures in medical research and drug development that are conducted to allow safety and efficacy data to be collected for health interventions...
  
  
• Cooperative Human Tissue Network (CHTN)
  Cooperative Human Tissue Network (CHTN)
  The Cooperative Human Tissue Network was established in 1987 by the National Cancer Institute in response to an increase in the demand for high quality biospecimens for cancer research...
  
  
• List of pharmaceutical companies
• Oncology
  Oncology
  Oncology is a branch of medicine that deals with cancer...
  
  

External links

• A list of Cancer Therapeutic Targets at Sino Biological
• Cancer Genome Anatomy Project @ The NIH
• Cancer Research Genetics
• Cancer Research Jobs
• CBC Digital Archives – Cancer Research: The Canadian Quest for a Cure "Articles in this series... examine the struggle to defeat cancer."
• Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center
• Stanford's Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine
• The Integrative Cancer Biology Program @ National Cancer Institute