This exciting SpringerBrief presents evidence for new ideas that will challenge several theories of how cancer biology is understood. Cancer biology has undergone several intellectual revolutions in the past 50 years. A mutation-centric view of cancer has given way to the tumor microenvironment view. Reductionistic studies of one gene at a time have given way to systems biology approaches that analyze the whole genome (omics) at the same time. However, this text combines the complex levels studying cancer at the molecular biology level, endocrinology level, and transcriptomics level. What...

Abnormal expression of MHC class I molecules in malignant cells is a frequent occurrence that ranges from total loss of all class I antigens to partial loss of MHC specific haplotypes or alleles. Different mechanisms are described to be responsible for these alterations, requiring different therapeutic approaches. A complete characterization of these molecular defects is important for improvement of the strategies for the selection and follow-up of patients undergoing T-cell based cancer immunotherapy. Precise identification of the mechanism leading to MHC class I defects will help to develop...

This SpringerBrief is comprehensive account of the functions and effects of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) EBNA1 protein that relate to EBV-associated cancers and evidence for EBNA1 contributions to these cancers. EBNA1 was the first EBV protein detected and the most critical for EBV latent infection. EBNA1 fulfills multiple functions at EBV genomes which have been described in many (sometimes confusing) reports over the last 28 years. While these were initially thought to be the only roles of EBNA1, many reports in recent years have shown that EBNA1 also directly affects cellular processes in...

Obesity is a risk factor for breast cancer in older women. A number of adipose-derived and obesity-related factors have been shown to affect tumour cell growth. These include adipokines, insulin, IGF-1 and oestrogens. The majority of obesity-related postmenopausal breast cancers are oestrogen-dependent. Since the ovaries no longer produce oestrogens after menopause, and that circulating levels are negligible, it is evident that it is the oestrogens produced locally within the breast adipose that are responsible for the increased growth of breast cancer cells. Aromatase is the enzyme that...

This SpringerBrief explores thephysiological roles ofSkp1-Cullin1-F-box Complex(SCF) andAnaphase Promoting Complex (APC) in normal cells and in tumor formation. These tworelated, multi-subunit E3 ubiquitin ligase enzymes, APCandSCFare thought to be the major driving forces governing proper cell cycle progression.Defective cell cycle regulation leads to genomic instability and ultimately, cancer development. Selective degradation of key cell cycle regulators by the ubiquitin-proteasome system has been proven to be a major regulatory mechanism for ensuring ordered and coordinated cell cycle...

A Quick Guide to Cancer Epidemiology is an ideal addition to Springer Briefs in Cancer Research. The Brief provides core concepts in cancer epidemiology and also gives a snapshot of the epidemiology of seventeen human cancers. The Brief aims to provide-with quantitative focus-estimates of the global burden of neoplasms, of recent and likely future trends, distribution, causes and strategies for prevention for major groups of cancers. Finally, the Brief will give an overview of severals factors that cause cancer including dietary factors, tobacco smoking, obesity and alcohol consumption.

Research on vitamin C and its effects on cancer is growing in popularity around the world as positive research continues to accumulate building a stronger case for its effectiveness. This concise SpringerBrief on Vitamin C and Cancer presents the latest findings on how vitamin C induces apoptosis. A high concentration of vitamin C allows for ascorbate to generate hydrogen peroxide in tissue that can selectively kill cancer cells. Research has confirmed that high-dose vitamin C is cytotoxic to a wide variety of cancer cell lines, and that it also boosts the anti-cancer activity of several...