Publisher's Synopsis
This first volume in the series, European School of Oncology Scientific Updates, deals with one of the most important genes in the molecular genetics of human cancer: p53. This cellular protein was discovered in 1979 by a number of investigators independently and alterations of p53 or its product are observed in about half of all cancers. In the early 1980s, several laboratories initially demonstrated dominant oncogenic activities of the gene. Then, in 1989, p53 was recognised as a classic tumour suppressor gene based on the results of various studies by different research groups. Since the detection of the gene and its product, various important functions have been described. The gene appears to be involved in cell cycle control, DNA repair, apoptosis, cellular differentiation, senescence and angiogenesis.;In view of the rapidly increasing importance of p53, a Task Force Meeting was organised by the European School of Oncology in London from 3-4 December 1996 to review and discuss the following: * structure, different functions and interactions of p53 * relationship of p53 alterations with other tumour characteristics * incidence and prognostic value of p53 alterations with respect to a broad spectrum of tumour types and patient subgroups * predictive value of p53 with respect to endocrine therapy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy * discrepancies in results of studies using different techniques for measuring p53 mutations and alterations of the p53 pathway * p53 as a target for (potential) new treatment modalities. The results of the lively discussions which took place are now presented in this first volume of the ESO Scientific Update Series.
