The field of oncogene research has exploded over the past decade. Previously discovered in retrovirus genomes and the genomes of DNA tumor viruses, oncogenes are now known to be present in cellular genomes where they play a critical role in human tumor pathogenesis. Study of oncogene-encoded proteins promises to provide insight into other areas of biology besides carcinogenesis, including developmental biology and neuronal signaling.

The present volume provides an introduction to this rich and rapidly growing field. Each chapter is written by a leader in the field and designed to explain the concepts that fuel current work. Included in the chapters are discussions of cytoplasmic and nuclear oncoproteins, signal transducing mechanisms, growth factors and their receptors, oncogenes and multistep carcinogenesis, tumor-suppressor genes and the implications of oncogenes for clinical oncology. The level of discussion is suitable for graduate students and researchers in a variety of biomedical fields and clinicians.