Introduction

Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of cells that have damaged DNA expression. The cancerous cells repeatedly divide, displacing normal tissue. The cancer or neoplasm may be either benign or malignant: a benign cancer stays confined to the tissue of origin, while malignant cancer can spread to other organs. The secondary growths or metastases are a serious complication to any treatment of the cancerous cells. A tumor is any space-filling group of cells that may or may not be cancerous.

Benign growths or tumors are usually noted by adding the ending "-oma." For example, adenoma would be a benign growth of the adrenal cortex, a hormone-producing group of cells near the kidney. Malignant tumors are noted by adding "sarcoma" or "carcinoma". A malignance of the adrenal cortex would be an adenocarcinoma. Bone cancer would be osteosarcoma.

Toxicology informs us about cancer on two accounts. First, toxicology research provided insight into the causes of cancer and likelihood of developing cancer. Second, many cancer treatments have serious toxicological side effects. Cancer treatment must often balance the need to kill the cancerous cells and the need to protect healthy cells.

Contents

• Cancer: A Short History
• Case Studies
• Genetic Toxicology and the Biology of Cancer
• What Causes Cancer?
• Regulatory Standards 
• Recommendations and Conclusions
• References and Additional Information

Relevant Resources on Toxipedia

• Articles on chemotherapy drugs: taxanes, anthracyclines

• Diseases section

• International Agency for Research on Cancer

• Carcinogens

• Radiation

• Fowler's solution

• Wilhelm Hueper

• Juda Hirsch Quastel