Tumour suppressor genes and oncogenes

CANCER An understanding of cancer is important to the urologist, not only because it is common, but also because its study provides insight into normal and abnormal cellular function. One in five adults die of cancer (Tables 20.1 and 20.2) and about 30-50% of common, solid epithelial tumours are advanced and incurable when first detected clinically. So far as urological tumours are concerned, prostate, bladder and kidney cancers are common, and while testis cancer is rare, it is important because, even when advanced, it is frequently curable and because it occurs in young men with an otherwise full life-expectancy.