Identifying the pathways activated and critical for cancer initiation and subsequent spread
(invasion and metastasis) are essential for improved cancer therapies. Over the past 35 years, many
genes have been identified which can cause or contribute to cancer. These include two major classes
of genes, oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. In some cases the genetic culprit involved in
a particular cancer may be known, however, in most cases there are multiple genetic and epigenetic
events occurring simultaneously which can interact and result in cancer cell formation and metastasis.
In addition, there are other important contributions by the tumor microenvironment which can
lead to the progression of cancer as well as resistance to various therapeutic approaches
