132-133 / 2063
Conclusions
•
Cancer is caused by a series (~2-8) changes in the
genome
–
Additional ~10
3
passenger genetic alterations
•
The changes which occur can be classified, giving rise
to 6 essential acquired properties, 2 emerging
properties and 2 enabling properties
•
The hallmarks of cancer can be arrived at by many
different genetic routes
–
As a result tumors are very heterogeneous. For each
‘
type
’
of
cancer there are several genetic routes
•
These hallmarks (and accompanying genetic
alterations) affect treatment and radiation sensitivity in
complex ways.
–
Understanding the molecular basis of cancer is important to
understand radiation responses