Oncogenes and Cancer

Oncogenes are mutated versions of normal genes, known as proto-oncogenes, which are essential for regulating cell growth, division, and survival. In their healthy state, proto-oncogenes function like a car's accelerator, promoting cell proliferation only when needed. However, when a mutation transforms a proto-oncogene into an oncogene, it becomes hyperactive, analogous to an accelerator that is permanently stuck down. This leads to uncontrolled and continuous cell division, a fundamental characteristic of cancer, which drives the formation and progression of tumors.

1. Introduction to Cancer Biology
   1. Definition and Characteristics of Cancer
      1. Uncontrolled Cell Proliferation
      2. Loss of Normal Tissue Architecture
      3. Invasion and Metastasis
   2. Benign vs Malignant Tumors
      1. Characteristics of Benign Tumors
      2. Characteristics of Malignant Tumors
      3. Progression from Benign to Malignant
   3. The Hallmarks of Cancer
      1. Sustaining Proliferative Signaling
      2. Evading Growth Suppressors
      3. Resisting Cell Death
      4. Enabling Replicative Immortality
      5. Inducing Angiogenesis
      6. Activating Invasion and Metastasis
      7. Reprogramming Energy Metabolism
      8. Evading Immune Destruction
      9. Genome Instability and Mutation
      10. Tumor-Promoting Inflammation
   4. Cancer Statistics and Epidemiology
      1. Global Cancer Burden
      2. Age and Cancer Incidence
      3. Environmental and Genetic Risk Factors