THE BIOLOGY OF TUMOR GROWTH

Malignant cells own an unique spectrum of biological characteristics, such as
production of auto proliferative signals, resistance to growth suppressing factors,
loss of apoptotic capacity, unlimited proliferative potential, invasion and metastasis,
genomic instability, secretion of angiogenic factors, induction of peritumoral immune
suppression, aerobic glycolysis etc. These properties are attributed to mutations
in oncogenes and suppressor genes. Recent advances in experimental oncology
attract attention to the existence of intratumoral heterogeneity, novel views on the
mechanisms of tumor metastasis, investigations of tumor-host interactions etc.