Ovarian cancer symptoms

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The field of medicine concerned with the treatment of cancer is oncology. Cancer has become an important problem with the rise in life expectancy, as the abovementioned mutations become more likely the longer a person lives. Though great progress in treatment has been made, most cancers in advanced stages remain incurable and ultimately fatal.

In cellular model systems, cells are exposed to carcinogenic influences (chemicals, radiation). In these systems, the first signs of a cell developing into a tumor cell are:

Immortality. The usual number of cell divisions for a mammalian cell is 50-60 (cell senescence), then it ceases to divide. Tumor cells keep dividing forever.
Altered morphology.
Building of cellular clusters (Foci).
Loss of contact inhibition.
Low or no need for growth factors.

Items 2-4 (above) can sometimes be traced to mutations in genes that result in a disruption of cell adhesion. Some cell adhesion proteins are oncogenes.

For most of the cancers, it cannot be told which event was the initial cause. However, with molecular biology, it is possible to characterize the mutations within a tumor, and to a certain extent predict its behavior. For example, about half of the tumors are deficient in the tumor suppressor gene p53, also known as "the guardian of the genome". This is associated with poor prospects for the patient, since those tumor cells are unlikely to go into apoptosis (programmed cell death) after they are damaged by therapy. There are more mutations that make a tumor more malignant. Telomerase mutations enable a tumor cell to divide indefinitely. Other mutations enable the tumor to grow new blood vessels to feed it, or to detach from the surrounding tissue, spreading to other parts of the body.

Mount Zion: Hyperthermia Treatment
Provides information about this treatment and research modality for use in cancer at the University of California at San Francisco.
OncoLink
Extensive information including news, prevention, clinical trials, conferences and psychosocial support from the University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center.
Hematology Oncology News & Issues
Headline news and articles for cancer professionals and patients.
About.com: Cancer
Presents general overview information on many of the main kinds of tumors. Includes news, doctor search, glossary and access to support hotlines.
Cancer Survivors Project
A community resource for long term survivors. Includes access to the ACOR email discussion group.

Ovarian cancer symptoms