title: Signaling Networks and Cell Cycle Control: The Molecular Basis of Cancer and Other Diseases (Cancer Drug Discovery and Development)
author: J. Silvio Gutkind
description: "Each chapter contains a well-referenced, clearly illustrated and up-to-date summary of the state of affairs including a discussion of the areas that are still open for further work. The volume provides a good read for both workers actively engaged in drug research as well as those working in the more fundamental areas of signaling and the cell cycle." - Cell Biology and Function<br /> <br /> "...the range of topics included in this book is impressive....This volume works well on many levels. For graduate students struggling to assimilate the large body of signaling literature, the first half of the book offers what amounts to a comprehensive review of the most basic aspects of signal transduction. For experts, these same chapters serve as a point of departure for the second half, which deals with the emerging body of literature on how one can manipulate signaling pathways in the treatment of disease. It is the combination of basic and applied aspects of signal transduction that makes this book unique....the editor has done a remarkable job in selecting and assembling reviews from experts in signal transduction, and for presenting such a lucid discussion of this complex field." - Quarterly Review of Biology<br /> <br /> "Each chapter is well referenced and stands alone as a comprehensive review in a specific area of signaling networks and cell-cycle control. In many cases the authors have highlighted several areas that are still open for further investigation, and have attempted to define the most likely molecular targets for pharmacological intervention...I would recommend this as a must have reference book, aimed mainly at an expert audience, which any good academic or biotechnological company library should have." - Cell Biology International
zlib_text: Chapter 14
  Malfunction of Signaling Pathways
  and Tumorigenesis:
  Oncogenes and Tumor Suppressor Genes
  14.1
  General Comments on Tumor Formation
  14.1.1
  Characteristics of Tumor Cells
  Tumor cells have special features compared to normal cells. The phenotype of a tumor
  cell is characterized by the following characteristics:
  – Increased rate of cell division, loss of normal growth control
  – Loss of ability to differentiate
  – Loss of contact inhibition
  – Increased capability for invasion of neighboring tissue, metastasis
  The cells of a fully-grown, aggressive tumor have gained these properties in a slow,
  multi-step process with the characteristics of cellular evolution. This development is
  associated with a selection process, in the course of which, cells that have lost their
  growth-regulating mechanisms predominate. The transition of a normal cell to a tumor
  cell can often be well characterized both morphologically and physiologically. Howe-
  ver, only a few of the underlying biochemical chan