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Molecular Biology Basics in the “Omics” Era: Cancer Pathology

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Molecular Oncology Testing for Solid Tumors

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Abstract

Over the past two decades, advances in the understanding of molecular biology have led to the development of an array of new molecular diagnostic tests. As a result, the care of cancer patients is undergoing an impressive revolution from “trial and error” to a “personalized” approach, based on a more detailed understanding of the biology of a patient’s tumor. Hundreds of biomarkers are currently in use to provide diagnostic and prognostic information to clinicians and help determine the optimal treatment regimen for a given tumor and molecular testing is becoming the standard of care for an increasing number of tumors. Basic knowledge of the cell cycle, cell cycle regulators, and the roles of proto-oncogenes, oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, DNA repair mechanisms, and control of programmed cell death is critical for medical practitioners to keep pace with the rapid molecular revolution and the rationale for targeted therapy. This knowledge is also important to understand the utility and limitations of available tumor biomarkers to ensure appropriate test utilization. It is imperative that medical practitioners especially pathologists and oncologists keep abreast of these rapid developments in order to provide contemporary care to cancer patients. This chapter provides an overview of basic molecular tumor pathology and targeted therapies.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory, Clinical Support Center, Virginia Commonwealth University Health System, 2nd Floor, Room 247, 403 North 13th Street, Richmond, VA, 23298-0248, USA

    Dipti Surve M.D.

  2. Department of Pathology, Virginia Commonwealth University Health System, 1200 East Marshall Street, 980662, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA

    Michael O. Idowu M.D., M.P.H.

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  1. Dipti Surve M.D.
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  2. Michael O. Idowu M.D., M.P.H.
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Correspondence to Dipti Surve M.D. or Michael O. Idowu M.D., M.P.H. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA

    Michael Ola Idowu

  2. Department of Pathology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA

    Catherine Isabelle Dumur

  3. Department of Pathology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA

    Carleton Theodore Garrett

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Surve, D., Idowu, M.O. (2015). Molecular Biology Basics in the “Omics” Era: Cancer Pathology. In: Idowu, M., Dumur, C., Garrett, C. (eds) Molecular Oncology Testing for Solid Tumors. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16304-8_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16304-8_2

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